Hummingbird Adaptations

Wings and Tail Adaptations

• Hummingbirds have narrow and tapered wings. The size of the wings varies. The bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), which is native to Cuba, is so small, about 0.06 oz, that it looks like a little insect. Hummingbirds have the fewest wings of all birds; this construction helps them to save energy. Birds have 12 tail feathers; a hummingbird has only 10. To save energy, hummingbirds have adapted their wings, which means they have less weight to carry around. A hummingbird flaps its wings about 70 times per second; sometimes up to 200 beats per second. Large species do not flap their wings as quickly as smaller species. The giant hummingbird only beats its wings 10 to 15 times per second. It is an illusion that their wings beat faster than other birds' wings; if you take the size into account, the wing beats are not exceptional. However, the way the bird has adapted its tail to act like a brake is fascinating.

Bill Adaptations

• Hummingbirds have adapted their bills to help them access tropical flowers and exist in conditions in the rain forests. A hummingbird has a needlelike bill, which is long and thin compared to the bird's overall size. The long bill helps hummingbirds to feed on nectar deep inside flowers. Some species, such as the blue-tailed emerald, perform nectar robbing, in which they pierce the base of the flower to reach the nectar directly. The lower part of the bill is flexible, which allows a hummingbird to capture insects in mid-flight. Hummingbirds hover; they can stand still in midair and fetch insects sitting on flower petals. The flower petals cannot support the bird's weight, so the bird has adapted by developing a special hovering technique. Their tongues are shaped like a long tube. This structure helps the birds to suck up nectar, insects and spiders. Hairs on the tongue help the bird extract the nectar.

Body Temperature

• Hummingbirds need to save energy. Their wingbeat frequency changes with the temperature. To save energy in cooler weather, the birds flap their wings less frequently. The night temperature drops quickly, particularly in the tropical rain forest. To survive, hummingbirds enter into a special state called hypothermic torpor. In this state, hummingbirds cannot find food. Instead they reduce their heartbeat and enter into a state close to hibernation.

Heart and Brain

• Hummingbirds have large brains and hearts. The relative size of the hummingbird's heart is the biggest in the animal kingdom. Depending upon the species, the bird's heart varies in size between 1.75 to 2.5 percent of its body size. The tiny Amethyst Woodstar's heart beats about 80 times per second; its large heart is an adaptation to being small and constantly looking for food. Many small species have to look out for predators; yet hummingbirds have few predators. Snakes, mammals and larger birds prey on their eggs. Cats, hawks, frogs, spiders and praying mantises prey on the adult birds. Hummingbirds have the largest brain relative to size in the bird world, approximately 4.2 percent of the body weight. They have a good memory and can remember which flower they have visited and how long time it takes for the flower to refill its nectar. The bird is constantly looking for food. Their large brains help them to remember food sources. They also have developed an ability to see into the ultraviolet spectrum. Many flowers are in this spectrum.