PNYV NGOOZVLHZQUT RVU….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)
TODAY’S CLUE: L = G
ANSWER: WHEN HUMMINGBIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES WANT TO TRY ON NEW OUTFITS, DO THEY USE A FLITTING ROOM?
Hummingbirds
Tiny Birds • Rapid Wingbeats • Native to the Americas
🌺 Small Birds With Amazing Skills
Hummingbirds are tiny, fast moving birds known for hovering in midair while feeding from flowers. They belong to the family Trochilidae and live only in the Americas, with the greatest variety of species found in tropical regions of Central and South America.
💨 Built to Hover
A hummingbird can hover by moving its wings in a distinctive back and forth motion that produces lift during both parts of the wingbeat. Hummingbirds can also fly backward, a maneuver their unusual wing structure and shoulder movement make possible.
🎵 Where the Name Comes From
Hummingbirds get their name from the humming sound produced by their rapidly beating wings. Wingbeat speed varies by species and activity, but in some of the smallest hummingbirds the wings can beat dozens of times every second.
🌸 Nectar & Insects
Flower nectar provides hummingbirds with the sugar needed to fuel their extremely active bodies, but nectar is not their only food. They also eat small insects and spiders, which provide important protein and other nutrients. As they visit flowers, hummingbirds can also help transfer pollen between plants.
🐦 The World’s Smallest Bird
The bee hummingbird of Cuba is the smallest living bird species. Adult males can measure only about 2¼ inches long and weigh less than a dime. Despite their tiny size, hummingbirds have remarkably high energy demands and must feed frequently while active.
🧭 Tiny Long Distance Travelers
Some hummingbirds make impressive seasonal migrations. The ruby throated hummingbird travels between breeding areas in eastern North America and wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America, with many making a nonstop flight across the Gulf of Mexico despite their remarkably small size.
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