Hummingbirds: Jewelled Messengers - Go Wild

Rockport, Texas is being invaded: 14 million Ruby-throated hummingbirds fly into this suburb of Corpus Christi in a period of 48 hours. They are about to undertake the most remarkable journey, flying non-stop over 1,000 kilometres across the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The trip will take 25 hours without a possibility to pause.

By the time they arrive in Rockport, the tiny birds weigh only 4 grams. That is dangerously little: they do not have enough fat to fuel the flight. For this, they need to weigh 6 grams – so they have to add half their body weight very quickly. The local people put up feeders around which hundreds of hummingbirds swarm. They feed and put on weight, ready for this critical and dangerous stage of their migration. After bing-eating, the birds set off. The local coastguard and military can now track the hummingbirds as they fly across the sea by radar.

This film reveals the remarkable lives of hummingbirds – one of nature’s most fabulous creatures. Everything about them is superb and extreme: highest metabolism, fastest heart beat and most rapid wing beat. This remarkable specialisation has been driven by flowering plants. Everything about hummingbirds has been shaped by this association – and in that relationship the plants provide and the birds work in their service.

The hummingbirds are the plants’ messengers – the key pollinators for 60% of the New World tropical plants. They pollinate plants in extreme climates where insects are unable to fly – like in the high Andean mountains of South America.

The reward for the hummingbirds is a kind of ‘rocket fuel’: the plants’ super high-calorie, sugar-rich nectar. But to obtain their high-energy fuel the birds have to expend huge amounts of energy – most obviously in hovering flight.
Of all the birds, only hummingbirds can hover for any length of time. And more than this, hummingbirds can fly backwards and even, just occasionally, upside down.

In other birds, the power is created in the outstretched down stroke of the wings; and then the wings are folded and lifted back to the start position for another power stroke. In hummingbirds, when they hover, both wing strokes create power and lift.

This film combines scientific revelation with astounding photography, capturing some of nature’s most remarkable and loved creatures. A wonderful visual tour-de-force – it uses ultra high-speed HD cameras and cutting-edge remote systems to enter the fascinating world of hummingbirds.

[frederickastarr]

Lovely to hear Sir David Attenborough narrating this amazing video, thank you.

[daureenesmith]

I smiled the whole time I was watching this video 😊. Hummingbirds bring me peace and happiness. Such a blessing for all of us! ❤

[frfrpr]

Nobody makes nature more compelling than Sir David Attenborough. I would like to have a library of all the films he produced

[LilyCorowsky]

Hummingbirds and Peacocks are some of GOD’s most beautiful creations in the universe! They are the most beautiful birds in the world. Indeed, they are very enchanting and fascinating. What a beautiful and cheerful sighting! 😍❤

[ToddSloanIAAN]

I felt very special in a garden when staying next to it flower bush, you know those orange trumpet Beauty of nature bushes, wear a hummingbird came right next to me looked me right in the face to check me out and then proceeded after I smiled too it just began going from flower to flower right there! I felt special.😗😏🤗🙃😉😇😊

[helendurow]

Beautiful birds and masterful photographers !!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[oo-jd-oo]

I like how the hummingbirds, along with some other birds and animals as well, can flap their wings yet at the same time they keep their heads perfectly still and not vibrating so that they can still see things as if they were just sitting still

[jeanp]

Say what you will, I sing the praises of my Creator and the beauty of His creation. I see Him in the magnifacens of these delicate creatures.🙏

[elletuppen]

Thank you to the entire team who put this remarkable and stunning documentary together. Every frame is breathtaking. And a huge thank you to Sir Davd❤

[lisajones]

What magnificient Birds that GOD created!

Great job capturing the gorgeous Hummingbirds in their environment. Absolute joy to see and watch them all!

[cleoxo]

Years ago when I put out my first hummingbird feeder, it became very clear that they would fight one another for access. So, now I put out four feeders every season and they drain them all every week. They are so delightful! We love watching them, especially when they perch on the feeder and we can get a better look at them.

[chumchum]

Extraordinary video! Perfect video versus music. David Attenborough is a genius.

[jmattlife]

The micro-hummingbirds are not fooling the bigger birds into thinking they are bees or some threatening insect.
Micro-hummingbirds are birds and obviously smell and look like birds.
Hummingbirds are known to have a keen sense of smell and vision.
More likely the micro-hummies are endearing to the larger hummers and are not considered a threat, perhaps a fellow miniature version which needs help to survive.
The larger hummers were so observant and exhibited no signs of alarm when interacting with the mini hummies.
This whole documentary was a sheer delight to watch.
It certainly induced smiles.
Job well done!

[christinemcleod]

Masterful narration by Sir David Attenborough!

[josephinemiller]

Like we tread water, hummingbirds tread air. My favorite birds!

[Whiteshell]

*My Ruby-throat's are making their 4500km journey back to Canada for spring time...amazing little creatures*

[FloridaRaider]

I don't say this lightly but this was an amazing watch.. very educational. Thank you

[daveduncan]

Great video, this should be mandatory for every kid in school!

[lyher]

Thank you again, Sir, .. for yet another vivid bird show.!!
The Exotic colors are Awesome and brighter then Any other animal's or Fish.!
Incredible camera work and patience! Also Hard work, Trekking to some of these spots in the Forests can take a whole day to go to and from.. Just for a few morning feeding moment's!!

[andyg.]

So Very Well Done ! Thanks to you all whom did this