Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that have captivated people for centuries. Their ability to hover and fly backwards sets them apart from other birds. Hummingbirds get their name from the sound created by their rapidly beating wings which flap on average around 80 times per second! But with their extremely high metabolism, hummingbirds need to consume a lot of energy in the form of nectar each day just to survive. This brings up an interesting question – can hummingbirds obtain some of this needed nourishment from sunflowers?
Do Hummingbirds Eat Sunflowers?
The short answer is yes, hummingbirds can and do feed from sunflowers. Hummingbirds use their long slender beaks to drink the nectar from sunflowers. However, it depends on the type of sunflower and how accessible the nectar is to the hummingbird.
The nectar containing tubular flowers that hummingbirds prefer are found in the center of the sunflower head, but on some sunflower varieties these are not very accessible. If the petals are puffy or overlapping it can make it hard for the hummingbird to reach the nectar. But the single flower sunflowers with an exposed center are perfect for easy access.
What Types of Sunflowers do Hummingbirds Like?
Some sunflower varieties that hummingbirds really enjoy include:
- Single flower sunflowers – The nectar is easily reached.
- Double flower sunflowers – These have extra rows of petals but still allow access to the nectar.
- Cinnamon sunflowers – These have a distinct cinnamon scent that attracts hummingbirds.
- Chocolate sunflowers – These have a chocolate scent that is irresistible to hummingbirds.
- Giant sunflowers – The huge flower size produces more nectar.
- Multi-branching sunflowers – More flowers mean more nectar availability.
The most important factor is that the center of the flower where the nectar is located is accessible to the long beak of the hummingbird. So single flower varieties tend to be preferred.
Sunflower Nectar Nutrition Facts
Sunflower nectar is an excellent energy source for hummingbirds and provides key nutrients in their diet. Here is the nutrition breakdown:
Carbohydrates
The main nutrient sunflower nectar provides hummingbirds is carbohydrates in the form of natural sugars. This gives the hummingbirds the rapid energy they need to power their wings during hovering and sustained flight. The average carbohydrate content is around 15-20% sugar.
Amino Acids
Sunflower nectar contains trace amounts of amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins. Key amino acids found include glutamine, asparagine, and proline. These help contribute to the muscle health and development of the hummingbirds.
Water
Like all nectar sources, sunflowers provide a high water content which helps hummingbirds avoid dehydration. Water can make up around 80% of the sunflower nectar. Hummingbirds have a very high breathing and metabolic rate and lose water rapidly. The water in nectar helps them maintain their water-electrolyte balance.
Vitamins & Minerals
Sunflower nectar also contains small amounts of B vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, and thiamine. Some minerals present include potassium, magnesium, iron, and calcium. These support the overall health of hummingbirds.
Antioxidants
Trace levels of antioxidant compounds like flavonoids and anthocyanins are also found in sunflower nectar and help combat oxidative damage in hummingbirds.
So while sugar-rich nectar mainly provides fast energy, sunflowers also supply key micronutrients hummingbirds need.
Do Hummingbirds Have a Preference for Sunflower Nectar?
When given a choice, do hummingbirds prefer sunflowers over other flower types? Let’s explore the evidence:
Scent
Some sunflower varieties like cinnamon and chocolate sunflowers produce scents that are highly attractive to hummingbirds. The potent fragrance draws the hummingbirds in from a greater distance. Research shows scent is one of the main factors influencing nectar preference, so strongly scented sunflower varieties are highly preferred.
Nectar Volume
Larger sunflowers tend to produce more abundant nectar which is advantageous. The greater volume of nectar rewards hummingbirds more for their foraging effort. Studies show hummingbirds prioritize flowers with higher nectar volumes, so giant sunflower heads can be very appealing.
Sugar Concentration
The ideal sugar concentration that hummingbirds prefer is around 20-25%. Sunflowers generally fall right into this preferred sweet spot, while some other flowers can have higher, less palatable concentrations. The moderate sugar content of sunflowers is appealing.
Flower Shape
Hummingbirds favor trumpet or tube-shaped flowers that accommodate their long beaks. Sunflower centers have just this sort of tubular shape that provides easy access. This matches their feeding apparatus and style.
Color
Vibrant red flowers tend to be most attractive, but many sunflowers come in bright warm colors like yellows and oranges. These hues stand out and appeal to hummingbirds. So while sunflowers may not be their first color choice, the warm tones are still enticing.
So with the right traits like scent, ample nectar, and tubular shape, sunflowers can in some cases be a top nectar choice for hummingbirds. Under optimal conditions they will selectively visit sunflowers over other flower types.
Unique Adaptations that Allow Hummingbirds to Feed From Sunflowers
Hummingbirds have several unique evolutionary adaptations that equip them to harvest nectar from sunflowers:
Needle-like Beak
The long, pointed beak of hummingbirds allows them to precisely insert their beak into the narrow tubular flowers of sunflowers to lap up the nectar. The beak length precisely matches the lengths of the flowers they feed from.
Rapid Lapping Tongue
Their tongues have forked tips that rapidly lap up nectar. When feeding, hummingbirds extend their tongues in and out around 13-17 times per second. This allows them to quickly collect nectar.
Swift Wing-flapping
Hummingbirds can precisely hover in place and fly in any direction allowing them to approach sunflowers from any angle to easily feed. Their wings flip back and forth up to 70 times per second enabling this maneuverability.
Sharp Vision
Excellent eyesight allows hummingbirds to spot flower colors and zero in on sunflowers from a distance even when flying rapidly. They can see into the near ultraviolet spectrum detecting flower guides.
Small Size
Their incredibly lightweight body and small size, often under 5 grams, allows them to lightly perch on flowers and hover right next to blossoms while feeding without damaging plants.
High Metabolism
Hummingbirds have among the highest metabolism of any vertebrate. This requires them to consume up to their entire body weight in nectar daily. Their adaptations allow them to rapidly harvest the vast quantities of sunflower nectar needed to fuel their extreme energy demands.
So hummingbirds possess remarkable evolutionary traits that make accessing energy-rich sunflower nectar possible.
Do Hummingbirds Have a Role in Sunflower Pollination?
In addition to feeding from sunflowers, do hummingbirds play a role in cross-pollinating these flowers?
The answer is yes, hummingbirds are considered one of the main pollinators of sunflowers in many regions such as the southern United States.
Here’s why hummingbirds are so important for sunflower pollination:
Frequent Visits
Hummingbirds feed from multiple sunflower flowers during foraging visits. This frequent hopping between flowers facilitates carrying pollen from one sunflower head to another.
Contact with Reproductive Parts
When hummingbirds insert their beak into the tubular flowers to drink nectar, their head inevitably contacts the flower reproductive organs, depositing pollen.
Rapid Movement
The speed at which hummingbirds can fly between sunflowers enables efficient cross-pollination between different plants.
Lack of Other Pollinators
In some regions hummingbirds may be one of the only effective sunflower pollinators if bees or other pollinators are scarce. This makes their role vital.
Research on pollen transfer shows sunflower pollen is frequently observed on captured and observed hummingbirds. And pollen can remain viable on their beaks and heads for hours as they move from plant to plant.
So while feeding on nectar, hummingbirds also provide the crucial ecosystem service of sunflower pollination which is vital for seed production.
Comparative Nectar Production of Sunflowers vs. Other Flowers
Hummingbirds will visit a wide variety of flowering plants to collect nectar. How does sunflower nectar availability compare to some other hummingbird-pollinated flowers?
Trumpet Vine
Trumpet vines produce around 0.1 – 0.3 mg of nectar per flower per day. A healthy trumpet vine may have 100-300 flowers producing 30-90 mg of nectar daily.
Fuchsia
Individual fuchsia flowers produce 0.2 to 0.5 mg of nectar per day. A bush may have 100-400 flowers generating 20-200 mg of daily nectar availability.
Coneflower
Coneflowers provide around 0.3 to 0.5 mg of nectar per flower each day. A plant may have 10-30 flowers open providing 3-15 mg daily.
Sunflowers
Each sunflower head can produce around 30-60 mg of nectar per day. And a single multi-branching sunflower plant may have 10-30 flower heads in bloom at once. This adds up to 300-1800 mg of nectar produced each day.
So you can see a single sunflower plant, with multiple flower heads blooming, can surpass the daily nectar production of hundreds of other hummingbird flowers. This makes sunflowers an excellent concentrated nectar source.
The table below summarizes the comparative daily nectar production:
Flower | Nectar per Flower | Flowers per Plant | Total Nectar per Plant |
---|---|---|---|
Trumpet Vine | 0.1 – 0.3 mg | 100-300 | 30-90 mg |
Fuchsia | 0.2 – 0.5 mg | 100-400 | 20-200 mg |
Coneflower | 0.3 – 0.5 mg | 10-30 | 3-15 mg |
Sunflower | 30-60 mg | 10-30 heads | 300-1800 mg |
Methods to Make Sunflowers More Attractive to Hummingbirds
Here are some tips to make the sunflowers in your garden even more irresistible to foraging hummingbirds:
Select Varieties with Accessible Nectar
Prioritize single flower varieties with exposed pollen centers that hummingbirds can easily access. This provides the maximum nectar reward for their effort.
Choose Scented Varieties
Opt for cinnamon, chocolate, or other sunflower varieties that produce a strong pleasant fragrance. Breeders are developing more powerfully scented varieties every year.
Provide Multiple Flowering Plants
Having several blooming sunflower plants close together means more flowers producing nectar which appeals to hummingbirds.
Use Strategic Planting Locations
Place sunflowers in optimal exposed locations where hummingbirds are known to frequent and forage such as near other hummingbird plants.
Consider a Nectar Feeder
Supplement with a liquid nectar feeder to initially attract hummingbirds to your garden planted with sunflowers.
Include Other Hummingbird Flowers
Mix in plantings of trumpet vines, bee balm, fuchsia and other hummingbird favorites along with your sunflowers.
Avoid Pesticides
Using organic gardening practices ensures more insects for hummingbirds to prey upon and eliminates toxins.
Provide Perches
Hummingbirds may perch briefly between feedings. Including small-branched trees and shrubs provides convenient rest areas.
With the right planting strategies, you can successfully entice hummingbirds to feed on the nectar-rich blooms of your sunflowers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hummingbirds most certainly can and do drink nectar from sunflowers. Sunflower traits like scent, ample nectar volume, tubular shape, and bright colors are attractive to hummingbirds. And hummingbirds in turn serve a role in sunflower pollination. With their specialized adaptations from needle-like beaks to rapid wing-flapping, hummingbirds are perfectly equipped to harvest sunflower nectar. While they feed on many flower types, in optimal conditions sunflowers can be one of the most abundant and efficient nectar sources for meeting hummingbirds’ extreme energy demands. By selecting accessible nectar varieties and creating a welcoming garden, you can successfully provide nutritious sunflowers in a symbiotic relationship benefiting both the hummingbirds and the flowers.