Celebrating National Hummingbird Day

National Hummingbird Day takes place every year during September. Let’s find out more about this beautiful creature and why it deserves to have a dedicated day! 

What is National Hummingbird Day?

Celebrated each year on the first Saturday in September, this day is focused on, you've guessed it, the hummingbird!

Not just a beautiful bird, this creature is actually pretty fascinating. A part of the pollinator family, pollinating a variety of flowering plants, these jewel-colored birds are incredibly useful to our ecosystems too as a keystone species, so it's no wonder they’ve got their own special day!

Hummingbirds: Did You Know?

Hummingbirds have some amazing qualities and characteristics. Here are some examples:

• They’re the only birds that can fly backwards.
• The Bee Hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world.
• They tend to fly alone.
• Many species can flap their wings between 50 and 80 times per second.
• They’re always hungry due to their incredibly fast metabolisms.
• Their hearts beat very fast, at up to 1,260 beats per minute.

Check out 10 hummingbird fun facts to learn more about these fascinating pollinators, and get to know the fastest hummingbird in the world, which is faster than a fighter pilot! 

What's a Group of Hummingbirds?

What do you call a group of hummingbirds? Take your pick! ‘Charm’s’ the most common term used, but there are various words used to describe them, so choose whichever you fancy! Here are some examples:

• A charm of hummingbirds
• A bouquet of hummingbirds
• A glittering of hummingbirds
• A tune of hummingbirds
• A hover of hummingbirds

Threats to Hummingbirds

It’s important to raise awareness of the need to protect our pollinators, and hummingbirds are no exception. Some of the main threats faced by hummingbirds include:

• Habitat loss
• Climate change
• Invasive plant species

How Can We Help Hummingbirds?

There are various ways we can help hummingbirds, and the more we help them, the likelier it is they'll visit us in our gardens! Here are some ways we can all play our part to help:

• Plant native nectar plants that bloom at different times of the year.
• Provide a bird feeder - remember that correct maintenance is crucial.
• Support organizations that help hummingbirds.
• Always avoid using pesticides.
• Create a hummingbird-friendly garden.

Choose some new clothing for your closet and help support the pollinators for National Hummingbird Day! Shop hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators in our Pollinator Collection, full of beautifully hand-drawn designs - each order plants trees and makes a donation to environmental non-profits, including Pollinator Partnership.