Hobbies And Interests
Beak Structure and Function
A hummingbird's beak is not hollow, and it does not suck nectar as if through a straw. Instead, its beak contains a long tongue with a brush-like tip that allows it to lap nectar. A hummingbird beak has an upper and lower portion that can be opened very slightly and with great control. Additionally, researchers at the University of Connecticut found that hummingbird beaks can bend up to 20 degrees, enabling them to more easily catch flies and small insects.
Body Structure
The body of a hummingbird supports its diet as much as its beak does. The wings of the hummingbird move in circular motions, not up and down like those of other birds. This, combined with its small size and weight, allows it to fly forward, backward and even upside down. Such finely tuned flying abilities are critical because the birds must be able to hover and make subtle adjustments in order to use their long beaks effectively.
Feeding
In addition to having an extremely long beak, a hummingbird's tongue moves very rapidly. It can lap nectar by extending and contracting its tongue at a rate of 13 times per second. After eating at one flower, it backs up and moves on to another. Hummingbird wings and tongues move so quickly when eating nectar or insects that the birds consume large amounts of energy very quickly. As a result, they often feed for short periods of time before perching to rest.
Diet
Due to their high-energy demands, hummingbirds eat as much as twice their body weight in sugar-rich nectar every day. Typical flowering plants in a hummingbird's diet include sage, red salvia, bottlebrush, shrimp plant, cardinal flower, red buckeye, Japanese honeysuckle and many others. A hummingbird's nutritional needs are similar to those of other birds. Although it gets many of its nutrients from nectar, nectar does not contain protein. A hummingbird must therefore eat insects to satisfy its body's need for protein.