20 May Hummingbirds of Panama
Did you know that Panama has almost 1000 different species of birds?
That makes up approximately 10% of the world’s known birds. No wonder this country ranks as one of the top 25 travel destinations for birdwatchers. Every year thousands of visitors from all over the world come to Panama to explore. The biodiversity and nature of the Neotropics as found in Panama are a hotspot for all bird lovers.
Coronado and the beach areas have their fair share of birds, both year around and migratory. One of our favorites is the smallest of all birds, the hummingbird. Out of over 300 different species of hummingbirds 60 of them are found throughout Panama. And let me tell you, we enjoy watching them daily stopping by to snack on our flowery plants.
Rufous Tailed Hummingbird, by Adele Doane
Hummingbirds are extremely fast! With up to 80 beats per second they are capable of hovering in mid-air to eat and go from flower to flower. The little colorful fellas are also capable of traveling up to 15 meters per second. This coupled with the wind speed takes a lot of energy out of them. If you look closely, you will find Hummingbirds throughout the day resting on branches to conserve their energy. Some species are even capable of lowering their body temperature and metabolic rate at night time to save up their energy allowing them to search for food.
Male Garden Emerald drying off after the rain, by Adele Doane
The most common type of hummingbirds found in the Coronado area are the Garden Emerald, Rufous Tailed and Black Throated Mango species.
Rufous Tailed Hummingbird in a Moringa Tree, by Adele Doane
A couple of interesting hummingbird facts:
- red is their favorite color
- they are the only bird that can fly backwards
- the weight of the smallest type, the bee hummingbird, is less than a US penny
- many plants rely on hummingbirds for pollination
- out of 300 species of Hummingbirds only 12 of them migrate
Female Garden Emerald feeding her baby, by Adele Doane
Have you ever watched hummingbirds fight? The need for food can make hummingbirds very protective of their territory and you can see them defending their source of nectar. But that is not all their diet consists of. Small insects, tree sap and pollen are also part of their daily diet. As some of the few hummingbirds migrate, they have more natural enemies of course. All of them face common threats to them such as habitat loss, destruction and climate change. Natural enemies are large insects like spiders or the praying mantis. Other enemies are frogs, lizards, and of course feral and domesticated cats.
Did you know that you can book private birdwatching tours directly with us? Guided tours with an expert will take you through the mountains of El Valle. Contact us for more information.
Your Coronado Concierge Panama Team