Hummingbirds are beloved for their diminutive size, iridescent feathers, and ability to hover in midair. Their long, slender tongues allow them to drink nectar from flowers, making them important pollinators. But did humans ever eat hummingbird tongues as a delicacy?
The Origins of Eating Hummingbird Tongue
There is some evidence that certain indigenous groups in the Americas ate hummingbird tongues in the past. In particular, the Aztecs of what is now Mexico reportedly considered hummingbird tongues a royal delicacy reserved for rulers and nobility. Some accounts indicate that Aztec hunters would capture hummingbirds on sticks covered with sap, pluck out their tongues while still alive, and present them to elites as edible treats.
This practice may have arisen from the Aztec reverence for hummingbirds. The Aztecs believed the hummingbird was sacred to their gods Huitzilopochtli and Xochiquetzal. Eating the tongues may have been a way for rulers and priests to absorb the nature and power of the hummingbird.
Additionally, some Native American groups in the western United States like the Cahuilla and Tongva peoples are said to have eaten roasted hummingbird. However, it is not clear if they specifically consumed the tongues.
Hummingbird Tongues as Aphrodisiacs and Remedies
Consuming hummingbird tongues was likely limited to a small elite section of certain ancient societies in the Americas. But tales of their powers became exaggerated over time. By the 1800s, many European colonizers had become fascinated by stories of indigenous groups eating hummingbird tongues.
Rumors spread that hummingbird tongues were powerful aphrodisiacs and magical remedies. For example, some claimed that licking hummingbird tongues would increase a woman’s sexual potency and make her more desirable. Others thought hummingbird tongues could cure everything from sleeplessness to memory loss.
Of course, none of these supposed effects have any scientific basis. But such legends added to the mystery surrounding hummingbird tongues in the colonial imagination.
The Practice Largely Died Out
While the Aztecs and some other pre-Columbian civilizations may have eaten limited quantities of hummingbird tongue, the practice died out over time.
As indigenous groups were decimated by disease and warfare, their traditional customs faded away. Hummingbirds retained their symbolic significance, but eating their tongues was no longer commonly practiced.
Additionally, hummingbirds became rarer in areas of heavy development and habitat loss. Their small size and hyperactive metabolism make them highly vulnerable to environmental changes. So even if people had wanted to continue eating hummingbird tongues, the declining populations likely would not have supported this practice.
Modern Laws Prohibit Killing Hummingbirds
Today, it is illegal in most countries to kill hummingbirds or consume their body parts. Here are some key laws that protect hummingbirds:
| Country | Laws |
|---|---|
| United States | The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to kill or possess any parts of migratory birds, including hummingbirds. |
| Mexico | Hummingbirds are a protected species and hunting them is completely banned. |
| Canada | The Migratory Birds Convention Act establishes seasons and limits for hunting game birds but prohibits all hunting of insectivorous birds like hummingbirds. |
| Costa Rica | Hummingbirds are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Law which prohibits hunting, extracting, and trafficking wildlife. |
These laws strictly forbid modern humans from engaging in any activities like poaching hummingbirds for food. The legal protections reflect an appreciation of the environmental importance of hummingbirds.
Availability on the Black Market
While eating hummingbird tongue is illegal today, there is some evidence of isolated black market trafficking. Investigations have found that in a few locations in Latin America, poachers may still secretly capture hummingbirds and sell the tongues to people interested in exotic delicacies.
For example, a few restaurants in California were found to have hummingbird tongues in the 1990s, likely imported illegally from Mexico. However, conservation agencies cracked down swiftly on these establishments. Overall, finding hummingbird tongues anywhere, let alone consuming them, is extremely rare.
Impact on Hummingbird Populations
The rarity of eating hummingbird tongues and stiff penalties against poaching have prevented any major impact on current hummingbird populations. While habitat loss from development poses a much larger threat to hummingbirds, eating their tongues appears nearly non-existent today.
That said, hummingbirds have very short lifespans, high metabolisms, and specific habitat needs. Even limited poaching could threaten local varieties. So it is important for legal protections to remain strongly enforced so hummingbird tongues do not reemerge as delicacies.
Conclusion
In summary, while a few pre-Columbian civilizations may have prized hummingbird tongues as elite delicacies, this practice died out centuries ago. Fantastic claims of their medicinal powers or aphrodisiac effects have no basis in science. Moreover, killing and eating hummingbirds is now rightfully illegal worldwide given their ecological significance and population vulnerabilities. While poaching persists in a couple isolated locations, overall, eating hummingbird tongue has become an obsolete curiosity of the past.
