Learn how to make DIY hummingbird nectar and get amazing Amazon Rainforest hummingbirds facts to make a wonderful study. And I have more ideas on my pages Rain Forest – Amazon, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, and Rainforest Amazon Activities for Kids.
Hummingbird nectar gives the birds energy for migration.
And helps keep them warm in cold weather.
Creating a source of food in a safe space can help attract these amazing birds to your backyard for closer observation.
While you won’t see the over 300+ species of hummingbirds in your backyard with your homemade hummingbird nectar and a feeder, you do have a great chance of spotting the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. It is the most common in North America.
7 Amazon Rainforest Hummingbird Facts
Beautiful and fast, these tiny birds are fascinating for many reasons.
- While hummingbirds most often drink plant nectar or sugar water from feeders, they also eat pollen and tiny insects such as beetles, bees, ants, and flies.
- The main predators of the hummingbird are hawks, praying mantis, bullfrogs, and giant orb-weaving spiders. Deforestation is also threatening their survival.
- The Amazon Rainforest of Colombia is a key habitat for over 150 species of hummingbirds.
- About 25 to 30 percent of a hummingbird’s weight is in its pectoral muscles. These broad chest muscles are principally responsible for the birds’ flying.
- Hummingbirds do not sip or suck nectar through their long bills as you may think, rather, they lick it with long, fringed, forked tongues.
- Hummingbirds have amazing memories and can remember every flower and feeder they’ve visited; they can even remember how long it takes for a certain flower to refill before they can visit again.
- A hummingbird’s pulse can surpass 1,200 beats per minute, this is the fastest heart rate of any bird.
Also, look at some of these books about hummingbirds.
Amazon Rainforest Hummingbird Books
As you know unit studies are a fantastic way to dive deep into a subject, whether you are studying the Amazon Rainforest or hummingbirds in particular hands-on activities, fun games, and manipulatives make the learning so much better.
Books and Resources for Learning About Hummingbirds
Add a few of these resources to your unit study.
When the last summer flowers open their petals to the sun, it’s time for a tiny ruby-throated hummingbird to dip its beak into the heart of each bloom, extracting as much nectar as possible before the hard trip ahead.
With this comprehensive, beautifully illustrated guide, you'll find it easy to attract these tiny, jewel-like birds to your own yard. The Stokes Hummingbird Book provides all the information you need to bring hummingbirds up close, identify them, and understand their fascinating and varied behavior.
Come and hum along to the tune of joy with this Hummingbird stuffed animal.
The beautifully detailed, realistic paintings of noted wildlife illustrator John Sill introduce readers to the many varieties of hummingbirds—from the smallest type (the bee hummingbirds of Cuba) to the largest (the giant hummingbirds of the Andes Mountains in South America). An afterword inspires further learning. This beginner's guide to hummingbirds is perfect for early childhood and elementary units in science and animal life.
CHAPTERS 1. Hummingbird Basics & Beyond 2. Feeding 101 3. Create a Winning Hummingbird-Friendly Habitat 4. Best Plant Picks 5. Beyond the Backyard 6. Hummingbird Tales 7. Ask the Experts 8. DIY Projects
The adventure of finding and caring for a baby hummingbird.
Add more hands-on activities to your study.
Hands-on Hummingbird Activities
- For very young learners you can turn a cute little footprint and handprint into a Hummingbird Craft that makes a sweet keepsake of your study.
- This tutorial will teach you how to Fold an Origami Hummingbird to make a beautiful paper representation of the subject.
- Watch this video of the Dot Eared Coquette found in the Amazon Rainforest if you want to see one in its natural habitat.
- Make a Faux Stained Glass Hummingbird to capture these colorful beauties in mid-flight.
- Play a fun game as your science for the day like Professor Noggin’s Birds of North America instead of a boring worksheet.
Finally, look how to make this DIY nectar for hummingbirds.
How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar
Making hummingbird nectar to attract and nourish these tiny little birds is incredibly easy.
While some people like to color their hummingbird nectar red, which is believed to attract hummingbirds, I opted not to because research has shown that hummers who have been fed dyed food have a higher mortality rate and suffer tumors of the liver and bill.
You will need:
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- Hummingbird feeder
First, bring the water to a boil.
Stir in granulated sugar and whisk until it is completely melted.
Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Once cool, transfer to a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Transfer from the jar to the hummingbird feeder, you can find these in a variety of sizes. I linked this cute one above in the supply list.
Place a hummingbird feeder 10 to 15 feet from a tree, shrub, or other appropriate hiding place.
Empty and refill the feeder every 3-4 days and clean it out well to prevent mold growth.
Your hummingbird nectar will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
