The ruby-throated hummingbird in today"s homepage image is snacking on some yellow bells in the Texas Hill Country, preparing for its long journey south for the winter. This time of year, the hummingbirds leave the northern latitudes of the eastern US and Canada, migrating to the warmer climes of Mexico and Central America. Along their route, many will cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single 500-mile flight, which can take 18-22 hours of nonstop flying at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. Tiny but fierce, the ruby-throated hummingbird weighs less than a nickel. It beats its wings about 53 times a second on average, but during courtship the wingbeat rate increases to 200 times per second, the fastest of any bird.
Tiny fliers head south
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Cranborne Chase, England
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Hiking the High Trestle Trail
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There was gold in them there hills…
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Just another day in paradise
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An enduring vision
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A bridge of Madison County
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Congratulations, 2019 Nobel Prize laureates!
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Earth Day and National Park Week
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Enter the magical world of Livraria Lello
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Composite image of a lunar eclipse
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Salmon return to the Copper River
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With leaves this tasty, who cares about a view?
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Mesmerizing murmuration
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Heavens Gate Cave, Tianmen Mountain National Park, China
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A day of service for Dr. King
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Northern cardinal in winterberry bush
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Southern lights for Antarctica Day
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Here we honor the women who ve served
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Ancient art in the Amazon
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Steyr River, Austria
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Laguna de Torrevieja, Spain
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Welcome to the Alien Egg Hatchery
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Rooftops in the walled city of Urbino, Italy
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In celebration of cats
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Spectacular views below!
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Hawai i Volcanoes National Park at 106
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International Lighthouse Weekend
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Looking back on 150 years of rail travel
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The birth of Bauhaus
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Where is this wintry road?