- The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.
The result was: promoted by Cielquiparle (talk) 13:23, 28 March 2023 (UTC)
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Hummingbird
A hummingbird
... that hummingbirds have incredibly fast wing-beats with some as high as 80 per second? Source: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/hummingbirds , https://www.britannica.com/animal/hummingbirdALT1: ... that hummingbirds are named that for the humming sound their wingbeats make while flying? Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8055270ALT2: ... that with the exception of insects, hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of all animals? Source: Suarez, R.K. (1992). "Hummingbird flight: Sustaining the highest mass-specific metabolic rates among vertebrates". Experientia. 48 (6): 565–570. doi:10.1007/bf01920240. PMID 1612136. S2CID 21328995. , Altshuler, D.L.; Dudley, R. (2002). "The ecological and evolutionary interface of hummingbird flight physiology". The Journal of Experimental Biology. 205 (Pt 16): 2325–336. doi:10.1242/jeb.205.16.2325. PMID 12124359.- Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Robert Palmer (British writer)
Improved to Good Article status by Zefr (talk). Nominated by Onegreatjoke (talk) at 20:06, 15 March 2023 (UTC). Post-promotion hook changes for this nom will be logged at Template talk:Did you know nominations/Hummingbird; consider watching this nomination, if it is successful, until the hook appears on the Main Page.
Excellent, article, thank you Zefr and Onegreatjoke. Article meets all DYK requirements. Either ALT0 or ALT2 are good (I don't think ALT1 will surprise most people), but ALT0 needs a clear reason for the word "incredibly" and/or for ALT2 please could you provide a supporting quote. Many thanks, Onceinawhile (talk) 13:09, 26 March 2023 (UTC)
- Onceinawhile - thanks for your work. For ALT0, this lay source provides depth, describing that "The distinctive sound of the hummingbird is perceived as pleasant because of the many 'overtones' created by the varying aerodynamic forces on the wing. A hummingbird wing is similar to a beautifully tuned instrument." We don't use the word "incredibly" in the article. Perhaps the emphasis could be altered for DYK to compare the humming sound to a musical instrument, like a cello. The scientists studying hummingbird wing sounds say "the knowledge gained may also help improve aircraft and drone rotors as well as laptop and vacuum cleaner fans. The new insights and tools can help make engineered devices that generate complex forces like animals do quieter."
- For ALT2, this source describes the need for hummingbirds to conserve their metabolism at night and during cold by going into torpor, a short-term deep-sleep-like state "in which metabolic functions are slowed to a minimum and a very low body temperature is maintained. If torpor lasted for long periods, we would call it hibernation, but hummingbirds can go into torpor any night of the year when temperature and food conditions demand it." Zefr (talk) 19:06, 26 March 2023 (UTC)
- Hi Zefr I suspect your reference to "aircraft and drone rotors as well as laptop and vacuum cleaner fans" will pique the interest of our readers. If you are happy to add a similar (but perhaps more detailed) sentence into the article with that citation, how about:
ALT3 ... that knowledge of hummingbirds may help improve drones, laptops and vacuum cleaners?
- Onceinawhile (talk) 21:57, 26 March 2023 (UTC)
- Onceinawhile - the section on humming includes the source referring to a musical instrument and an audio file that may be a good summary for general users (many readers would not know of them, as hummingbirds exist only in the Americas), but the precise use of the quote to drone rotors or vacuum fans is too much speculation (with no published sources) for the article. Perhaps when you write the DYK, you can construct it in a way to give colorful perspective. Zefr (talk) 00:55, 27 March 2023 (UTC)
- Hi Zefr, unfortunately per WP:DYKCRIT #3, the hook fact must be in the article. I suggest we focus on ALT2 instead – please could you provide a quote from one of the sources confirming that
with the exception of insects, hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of all animals
? Onceinawhile (talk) 07:12, 27 March 2023 (UTC)- Onceinawhile - I added context to the metabolism discussion, possibly giving you a useful hook for public interest. 1) To sustain rapid wingbeats during flight and hovering, hummingbirds expend an estimated 150,000 calories per day, an amount estimated to be 10 times the energy consumption by a marathon runner in competition. 2) The amount of fat (1–2 g) used by a migrating hummingbird to cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight is similar to that used by a human climbing about 50 feet (15 m) - this author said: "The amount of fat (1–2 g) that would allow a human to climb about 50 feet is enough for the ruby-throated hummingbird to fly across the Gulf of Mexico, and failure to make the crossing would mean certain death." Zefr (talk) 21:31, 27 March 2023 (UTC)
- Hi Zefr, thank you! I never imagined that the humble hummingbird could have so many interesting facets. I like all the new points above. Note that the text in the article needs tweaking - it is not they use 150,000 calories, but "the human equivalent of" 150,000 calories, which I believe is a form of talking in dog years. For the hook, how about the below:
- ALT4 ...that hummingbirds need the human equivalent of over 150,000 calories every day?
- Onceinawhile (talk) 22:28, 27 March 2023 (UTC)
- Onceinawhile - correct. That is a direct quote from this. Thanks. Zefr (talk) 22:53, 27 March 2023 (UTC)
we are good to go! Onceinawhile (talk) 22:58, 27 March 2023 (UTC)
- Onceinawhile - correct. That is a direct quote from this. Thanks. Zefr (talk) 22:53, 27 March 2023 (UTC)
- Hi Zefr, thank you! I never imagined that the humble hummingbird could have so many interesting facets. I like all the new points above. Note that the text in the article needs tweaking - it is not they use 150,000 calories, but "the human equivalent of" 150,000 calories, which I believe is a form of talking in dog years. For the hook, how about the below:
- Onceinawhile - I added context to the metabolism discussion, possibly giving you a useful hook for public interest. 1) To sustain rapid wingbeats during flight and hovering, hummingbirds expend an estimated 150,000 calories per day, an amount estimated to be 10 times the energy consumption by a marathon runner in competition. 2) The amount of fat (1–2 g) used by a migrating hummingbird to cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight is similar to that used by a human climbing about 50 feet (15 m) - this author said: "The amount of fat (1–2 g) that would allow a human to climb about 50 feet is enough for the ruby-throated hummingbird to fly across the Gulf of Mexico, and failure to make the crossing would mean certain death." Zefr (talk) 21:31, 27 March 2023 (UTC)
- Hi Zefr, unfortunately per WP:DYKCRIT #3, the hook fact must be in the article. I suggest we focus on ALT2 instead – please could you provide a quote from one of the sources confirming that
- Onceinawhile - the section on humming includes the source referring to a musical instrument and an audio file that may be a good summary for general users (many readers would not know of them, as hummingbirds exist only in the Americas), but the precise use of the quote to drone rotors or vacuum fans is too much speculation (with no published sources) for the article. Perhaps when you write the DYK, you can construct it in a way to give colorful perspective. Zefr (talk) 00:55, 27 March 2023 (UTC)
- Hi Zefr I suspect your reference to "aircraft and drone rotors as well as laptop and vacuum cleaner fans" will pique the interest of our readers. If you are happy to add a similar (but perhaps more detailed) sentence into the article with that citation, how about:
