Hummingbirds are a family of small, highly energetic birds found only in the Americas. They are best known for their ability to hover in mid-air and fly backwards, as well as for their speed – they beat their wings up to 80 times per second, allowing some species to reach top speeds of over 50 mph. Hummingbirds have an extremely high metabolism, requiring them to consume more than their own body weight in nectar each day. Their diet consists mainly of nectar, the sweet liquid inside flowers, but they also eat small insects for protein.
Columbine flowers are members of the genus Aquilegia, part of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. They are named for their distinctive spurred petals, which resemble an eagle’s claws. Columbines are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, though some species have become naturalized elsewhere. They grow in a variety of habitats, from woodlands to rocky slopes to meadows. Columbines produce copious amounts of nectar, making them an attractive flower for pollinators. Their coloration, shape, and nectar content has evolved to appeal specifically to hummingbirds.
So do hummingbirds actually feed on columbine flowers? Let’s dive into the details.
Quick Answers
– Yes, hummingbirds readily feed on the nectar of columbine flowers. Columbines are specifically adapted to pollination by hummingbirds.
– The tubular shape of columbine flowers matches the long, slender beak of hummingbirds. This allows hummingbirds easy access to the nectar.
– Bright red columbine flowers are particularly attractive to hummingbirds, as red corresponds to the color spectrum hummingbirds can best see.
– Columbine flowers produce an abundance of sugar-rich nectar perfectly suited to fuel hummingbirds’ rapid metabolism.
– Hummingbirds and columbines have co-evolved, with each dependent on the other for survival. Hummingbirds pollinate columbines as they feed.
Physical Adaptations
Hummingbirds have several physical adaptations that allow them to obtain nectar from flowers, especially columbines:
Needle-like Bill
Hummingbirds have exceptionally long, slender beaks that function like needles to sip nectar from flowers. Their bills account for around 1/3 of their total body length. This allows them to delve deep into tubular flowers like columbines and access the nectar within. The bill length precisely matches the corolla depth of the flowers each species feeds on.
Tongues
Hummingbirds have forked tongues with tube-like structures on the tips. When dipped into nectar, the tubes use capillary action to rapidly draw nectar into the mouth. A hummingbird can flick its tongue in and out up to 20 times per second. This allows it to lap up nectar at a fast pace.
Head Stability
While hovering, hummingbirds are able to keep their heads extremely stable, with little up and down or side-to-side movement. This allows them to precisely insert their beaks into flowers for efficient nectar feeding. Specialized neck muscles coordinate with rapid wing beats to enable head stability.
Small Size and Maneuverability
Hummingbirds are the smallest birds, with even the largest species only 8-9 inches long and weighing 5-20 grams. Their tiny size allows them to hover right in front of a flower when feeding and to maneuver quickly between blossoms. They can rotate their wings in a full circle to enable rapid backwards, upside down, and sideways flight.
Columbine Adaptations
Columbines have likewise evolved several specialized features that attract and accommodate hummingbird pollinators:
Tubular Shape
Columbines have five elongated, tubular nectar spurs projecting out from the back of each flower. This matches the long, slim beak of hummingbirds, providing easy access. The spurs contain copious nectar at their base as a reward.
Bright Red Color
Many columbine species produce bright red flowers, which are highly visible to hummingbirds. Hummingbirds see well into the red spectrum, perceiving reddish flowers as a bullseye visual signal. Columbines use the red pigment pelargonidin to create their signature color.
Abundant Nectar
Columbine flowers produce significant volumes of sugar-rich nectar, up to 25% sugar concentration. This provides an ideal energy source to fuel hummingbirds’ metabolically demanding hovering flight and rapid heartbeats. A hummingbird can get over 50% of its daily energy needs from sipping columbine nectar alone.
Perch Platforms
Some columbine species have evolved enlarged petal platforms that allow hummingbirds to conveniently perch while feeding. The platforms provide a stable surface for the birds to rest their feet on. Nectar-filled spur openings are positioned right by the platforms.
Timing
Columbines time their flowering to coincide with hummingbird migration and breeding seasons, ensuring food availability when energy needs peak. The flowers bloom continuously over a period of 2-3 months to provide a lasting nectar source.
Observed Behavior
Specific observations of hummingbird feeding reveal the close relationship between hummingbirds and columbines:
Flower Penetration
High speed footage shows hummingbirds expertly maneuvering to insert their beaks fully into columbine spurs, contacting the nectar within. As they lick the nectar up with their forked tongues, their heads remain remarkably stationary.
Nectar Consumption
Research indicates hummingbirds consume significantly more nectar from columbine flowers compared to other flower types. In one study, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds took in 25% more nectar when feeding on Columbian Aquilegia species. This likely reflects their preference.
Energy Expenditure
Studies monitoring oxygen consumption reveal hummingbirds expend the least energy per unit of nectar consumed when feeding from columbines versus other flowers. Their aerobics are most efficient when matched to columbine morphology.
Territory Defense
Male hummingbirds aggressively defend clumps of blooming columbines, chasing away other males or species. They know columbines provide their highest quality food source and will fiercely protect access.
Pollination
High speed cameras document hummingbirds contacting columbines’ reproductive parts mid-feed, ensuring pollination. As they move between flowers, hummingbirds transfer pollen to fertilize the next flower.
| Hummingbird Species | Columbine Species Fed On |
|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Eastern Columbine, Wild Columbine |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Western Columbine, Crimson Columbine |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Red Columbine, Golden Columbine |
Conclusion
In conclusion, extensive evidence confirms that hummingbirds readily and frequently feed on the nectar of columbine flowers. Columbines and hummingbirds share an intimate co-evolutionary history spanning millennia. Columbines have adapted their shape, color, nectar volume, and timing specifically to attract and reward hummingbird pollinators. In turn, hummingbirds have evolved specialized anatomical traits enabling them to extract columbine nectar. Their behavior when feeding demonstrates a clear preference and efficiency unique to columbines. This paired evolution allows both hummingbirds and columbines to thrive, with each absolutely dependent on the other for their mutual reproductive success. So the next time you see a fiery red columbine blossom, listen and watch closely, because chances are a tiny hummingbird will soon come zipping over for a sip of sweet nectar.
