North American giant hummingbird (SciiFii)

The North American giant hummingbird (Patagona americanus) is a species of hummingbird, most closely related to the South American giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The North American giant hummingbird is one of [2] and the largest member of the hummingbird family, weighing 18–24 grams (0.63–0.85 oz) and having a wingspan of approximately 21.5 centimeters (8.5 inches) and length of 23 centimeters (9.1 inches). This is approximately the same length as a common starling or a northern cardinal, though the giant hummingbird is considerably lighter because it has a slender build and long bill, making the body a smaller proportion of the total length. The North American giant hummingbird can also be distinguished from other North American hummingbirds by the presence of an eye-ring, straight bill longer than the head, dull colouration, very long wings (approaching the tail tip when stowed), long and moderately forked tail, tarsi feathered to the toes and large, sturdy feet. There is no difference between the sexes. Juveniles have small corrugations on the lateral beak culmen. The North American giant hummingbird hovers at an average of 15 wing beats per second, very slow for a hummingbird. Its resting heart rate is 300 per minute, with a peak rate of 1020 per minute. Energy requirements for hummingbirds do not scale evenly with size increases, meaning a larger bird such as the North American giant hummingbird requires more energy per gram to hover than a smaller bird. The North American giant hummingbird requires an estimated 4.3 calories per hour to sustain its flight. The North American giant hummingbird occasionally glides in flight, a behavior very rare among hummingbirds. Its elongated wings allow more efficient glides than do those of other hummingbirds. The North American giant hummingbird's voice is a distinctive loud, sharp and whistling "chip". The North American giant hummingbird feeds mainly on nectar, visiting a range of flowers. The female North American giant hummingbird often feeds on sources of calcium (sand, soil, slaked lime and wood ash) after the reproductive season to replenish the calcium used in egg production; the low calcium content of nectar necessitates these extra source. The North American giant hummingbird is also known to feed from columnar cacti and prey on insects during mid-flight. The female builds the nest and lays a clutch of two eggs during the summer. The North American giant hummingbird's nest is small considering the size of the bird, typically made near water sources and perched on a branch of a tree or shrub parallel to the ground. The conservation status of the North American giant hummingbird is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American giant hummingbird's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii