"Hummingbirds are found only in the 'New World';of the 19 species in North America, only the Ruby-throated lives east of the Mississippi - from Nova Scotia to Florida.

Hummingbirds build tiny lichen covered nests, sometimes using spider web strands in the lining, and lay one or two navy bean-sized eggs once or twice a year. They can fly at 70mph, beating their wings 60 to 80 times a second. To sustain this high energy level, they must eat every 20 minutes, but at night their temperature drops from 100*F to 60*F to conserve energy. Their feathers contain no true pigments; the dazzling colors are the result of refracted light.

'...as she flies she makes a little humming noise like a Humble-bee: wherefore she is known as a Humbird.'"