Hummingbird size

Hummingbird size

In this activity, students will investigate hummingbird size and create a life-size hummingbird silhouette.

Introduction

Rufous hummingbirds, the most common kind of hummingbird that breads in Metro Vancouver, are very small. At only 3 grams, they actually weigh the same as pennies did prior to 1980, when pennies were still made from copper. Female Rufous hummingbirds tend to weigh a bit more so they can lay eggs, share their body heat with their eggs and feed their young when they hatch.

The smallest hummingbird is the bee hummingbird from Cuba. It's 6 cm from beak to tail and weighs 2 grams (less than a penny).The giant hummingbird of the Andes is 23 cm long and weighs 20 grams.

Birds may not see or recognize window glass. To alert birds that something is there, we can put something on the glass, such as a silhouette or outline of a hummingbird. This can help hummingbirds by serving as a warning that something is there so they don't fly into it.

Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Compare hummingbird size to familiar objects

Entire Activity

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Other Resources

Full Lesson & other activities - Hummingbirds