Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures. Their ability to hover in midair and fly backwards sets them apart from other birds. They have evolved to sip nectar from flowers using their long, thin beaks and tongues. But with the popularity of hummingbird feeders, an interesting question arises – can hummingbirds tell the difference between artificial nectar feeders and real flowers?
The anatomy of hummingbirds
To understand if hummingbirds can distinguish between feeders and flowers, it helps to first look at their anatomy and feeding behaviors. Hummingbirds have excellent vision. Their eyes are large relative to their body size, which gives them a wide visual field. The retina of their eyes contains a high density of photoreceptors, allowing them to see color very well. In fact, they can see into the near ultraviolet spectrum. This helps them find nectar-rich flowers, which often reflect UV light.
Hummingbirds also have a good sense of smell. They use this to locate flowers and drink nectar using their long, slender beak and extensible tongues. Their tongue has tubes that fill with nectar via capillary action. When retracted, the nectar gets squeezed down their throat.
Research has found that hummingbirds can learn and remember flower locations and characteristics. They have spatial memory and can remember the locations of reliable flower nectar sources. This suggests they may form mental maps to efficiently visit multiple flower locations.
How hummingbirds feed from flowers
Flowers have evolved alongside hummingbirds and developed characteristics to attract them. The flowers hummingbirds prefer usually have the following features:
- Bright red coloration – this helps the birds spot the flowers
- Tubular shape – matches the hummingbird’s beak and tongue
- Lots of nectar – provides a rich energy source
- Minimal scent – hummingbirds rely more on sight than smell to find flowers
When feeding on real flowers, hummingbirds use their slender beaks and extendable tongues to reach inside the flower to sip the nectar. As they feed, pollen sticks to their heads and throats. When they fly to the next flower, this pollen rubs off onto that plant, allowing pollination. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship between birds and blooms.
Key differences between flowers and feeders
Now that we’ve looked at hummingbird anatomy and feeding, we can examine the key differences between flowers and feeders:
Appearance
Flowers are bright, colorful, and shaped like tubes or funnels. Feeders come in a variety of shapes and colors, but most have straight perches or feeding ports. Some feeders try to simulate flowers, while others are purely functional.
Nectar
Real flower nectar contains sugars (sucrose, fructose, glucose), amino acids, proteins, and other compounds. Feeders are filled with a water-sugar solution that contains sucrose but none of the other compounds in natural nectar.
Feeding method
At flowers, hummingbirds lick nectar from inside a bloom using their tongue. At feeders, they lap nectar from ports or perches. The feeding method is different.
Movement
Flowers move naturally in the breeze. Feeders are stationary. Hummingbirds may be able to sense this difference in movement as they approach.
Scent
Flowers have a natural nectar scent that, while faint to humans, may be detectable to hummingbirds. Feeders lack any scent.
Temperature
Flowers and nectar are room temperature or warmer on sunny days. In comparison, feeder nectar is sometimes room temperature, depending on when it was freshly made.
Location
Flowers are anchored in garden beds and pots. Feeders hang from trees, overhangs, poles and other unnatural locations. Hummingbirds must locate feeders, whereas flower patches are predictable.
Studies on hummingbird feeding preferences
Scientific research provides some clues into hummingbird feeding behaviors and preferences:
- One study showed hummingbirds learned to associate the color red with nectar rewards. They also learned to check flower colors to predict nectar availability.
- Experiments with artificial feeders found that making the feeder red increased visits from hummingbirds.
- Researchers discovered hummingbirds prefer sucrose concentrations between 20-25%, similar to flower nectar.
- Hummingbirds favor feeders with perches compared to feeder holes, suggesting they prefer to lick nectar like at a flower.
These studies indicate that hummingbirds have definite feeding preferences shaped by flower-finding. This suggests they can recognize differences between real flowers and manmade feeders.
Signs hummingbirds distinguish natural flowers from feeders
Here are some behaviors that suggest hummingbirds know the difference between flowers and feeders:
Wariness around new feeders
Hummingbirds are often cautious when investigating a new feeder. They may make quick passes by the feeder to check it out before trying it. This hints they know it’s an artificial nectar source.
Preference for red feeders
Hummingbirds quickly learn to associate the color red with nectar rewards from red tubular flowers. Their preference for red feeders suggests they view them as flower mimics.
Training to feeders
It can take repetition and “training” periods for wild hummingbirds to regularly use feeders. With flowers, they instinctively know to probe for nectar. Feeders seem to go against their natural foraging behaviors.
Territorial behavior
Male hummingbirds aggressively guard flower patches to feed exclusively and attract females. They show less territorial behavior at feeders with abundant nectar. This indicates they view feeders differently than scarce flower resources.
Conclusion
Research and observations show that hummingbirds have an innate preference for feeding from flowers. While they readily adapt to using feeders, they appear to recognize that feeders are an artificial nectar source that does not perfectly substitute natural flowers.
Hummingbirds seem to distinguish flowers and feeders in these key ways:
- Appearance – flowers look more natural
- Feeding method – licking nectar vs lapping
- Movement – flowers move in breeze, feeders are stationary
- Location – flowers are where expected, feeders hang in random spots
So in conclusion, yes, hummingbirds likely do know the difference between feeders and flowers on some level. Their behaviors reflect an understanding of the natural flowers that co-evolved with hummingbirds to provide nectar. Feeders are a supplemental nectar source that hummingbirds recognize as distinct from flowers.
