Adorable Hummingbird Snoozes While Hanging Upside Down

Jun 26, 2020 by apost team

While hummingbirds are usually full of energy, flitting across our backyards at breakneck speeds, this fascinating video from 2018 shows a hummingbird sleeping while hanging upside down from a birdfeeder. It turns out, however, that this unusual practice has a scientific name.

There is little doubt that hummingbirds are one of the most fascinating creatures in the world of birds and the animal kingdom in general. The frantic fluttering of their wings is mesmerizing to watch. Their unique and beautiful behavior has led countless individuals to leave specialized hummingbird feeders outside of their homes so that they can get a real close up view of these amazing creatures in action. One homeowner was treated to a particularly unique glimpse into the life of a hummingbird when he found one hanging upside down from his hummingbird feeder.

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Hummingbirds are some of the most interesting creatures to observe, but most people only see them at their most active. It is a common sight to see a hummingbird frantically zipping around the hummingbird feeder. What many do not realize is that there is another side to hummingbird life that occurs when it is time for these dynamos to take a much-needed rest. It was this rest period that was recently captured by a homeowner when a hummingbird was found sound asleep and hanging upside down from a feeder.

Just like everyone else, hummingbirds need to get sleep. This is not a huge surprise considering how tiring their regular activities appear. The reality is that these fast-paced birds like to slow things down significantly when it is time to sleep and they enter a state called torpor, according to World of Hummingbirds. Once this occurs, the metabolism of their bodies and their overall heart rate drops off dramatically, and they go into a deep sleep that is meant to help them recover from the frenzy of their normal routine.

The slowing of the hummingbird's body processes includes a heart rate drop down to about fifty beats every minute. Their breathing slows dramatically during torpor as well. As they slowly start to wake up, everything begins to speed up until they suddenly awaken and return to the frenetic nature of their usual lifestyle. This particular bird featured in the video proceeded to go right back to his usual routine of feeding once he woke up. Something that many viewers will relate to is the fact that he was not quite back up to full speed the second that he awoke. It takes anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour for the hummingbird to fully get up to speed and this is something that many viewers can probably relate to when it comes to waking up in the morning. Much like many viewers probably go for that morning cup of coffee, this newly awoken hummingbird goes for some food from the feeder to get things going again.

The speed and agility of hummingbirds make them one of the most amazing animals to watch and putting up a hummingbird feeder is a great way to catch the action. It is even more fascinating when one catches the sight of something that is not often seen with these amazing birds.

Where you fascinated by the sight of a hummingbird taking an upside-down snooze on a hummingbird feeder? Did you learn some new information about the way that these fast-paced birds get their rest in? If you found this video entertaining and informative, then make sure and let as many others know about it as you can.