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Question:
How many feathers does a ruby-throated hummingbird have?

Replies:
According to the Audubon Encyclopedia of Birds (Terres), the lowest number of feathers counted on a single bird was 940, on a ruby-throated hummingbird in June, (Wetmore, 1936). That is a lower number than any other feather count reported, even for similarly small species, next closes was 1119 on a kinglet, also by Wetmore.

J. Elliott

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