Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that capture the imagination with their diminutive size, stunning iridescent colors, and remarkable ability to hover in midair as their wings beat up to 80 times per second. A key factor in their survival is their ability to consume large quantities of energy-rich nectar throughout the day, obtained primarily from specialized tubular flowers. To make it easier for backyard enthusiasts to observe and enjoy hummingbirds up close, a variety of hummingbird feeders have been developed that essentially mimic flowers. But how exactly do hummingbirds extract nectar from these artificial nectar feeders? Let’s take a closer look at the intricacies of the hummingbird feeding process.
Anatomy of the Hummingbird Tongue
To understand how hummingbirds drink, we first need to understand the structure of their tongue. A hummingbird’s tongue is an engineering marvel perfectly adapted for accessing liquid nutrition.
When not in use, the tongue retracts into a sheath-like groove called the bill tip groove that runs along the upper mandible of the beak. At rest, about a quarter inch of the tongue sticks out of this groove.
Structurally, the hummingbird tongue consists of two tubes joined together lengthwise. The outer edges of the tubes can flex outward to form two troughs. As nectar moves into the troughs, the tubes snap shut again, effectively trapping the liquid. This action is powered by compressed energy stored in the groove tissue.
Along the length of the tubes are bristles that act like a mop to soak up nectar. The bristles tips split into even tinier hairs, vastly increasing the tongue’s surface area and absorption power.
So in summary, key anatomical features that allow the tongue to efficiently take up nectar include:
- Tube and trough structure to contain liquid via capillary action
- Groove tissue to power rapid tongue extension and retraction
- Densely packed bristles to mop up liquid
- Microscopic hairs at bristle tips to maximize surface area
How the Tongue Works
Armed with this specialized equipment, here is how a hummingbird is able to feed:
- The tongue darts out, extending up to 6-8 inches.
- The troughs on the end of the tubes open up.
- As the troughs contact and mop up nectar, the tubes snap shut again via compressed energy in the groove tissue.
- Nectar becomes trapped in the tube via capillary action as the bristles soak it up.
- Surface tension and suction help draw the liquid further into the tube.
- The tongue rapidly retracts back into the bill, delivering the nectar.
- The process repeats about 10-15 times per second!
So in a fraction of a second, a hummingbird can dart its tongue into a flower or feeder, collect a sips worth of nectar, and retrieve its tongue so the nectar can travel down the throat. This drinking action happens lightning fast and is repeated numerous times in quick succession.
The tongue does not suck up nectar like a straw. Rather, it relies on capillary action via the tubes and the microscopic hairs acting as absorption surfaces. This allows the nectar to rapidly soak into and travel up the tongue through adhesion and surface tension.
Obtaining Nectar from Feeders
Hummingbird feeders are designed to take advantage of the hummingbird’s specialized tongue structure and feeding strategy. Here’s how they work together:
- Feeders provide access to exposed nectar via ports or openings.
- The openings are surrounded by artificial flowers to target the hummingbird’s instinct to probe flowers.
- The feeder reservoirs store much more liquid than a single flower, allowing repeated access.
- Colorful feeders attract hummingbirds visually from a distance.
- Perches allow hummingbirds to conveniently hover-feed.
- Nectar is formulated to match the 20-25% sugar concentration hummingbirds are adapted to.
- Red dye added to the nectar adds visual appeal.
To drink from a feeder, hummingbirds hover near the openings, extending their specialized tongues repeatedly to lap up the artificial nectar. The bristles soak up the sweet liquid via capillary action and carry it back to the throat when the tongue retracts.
Some key aspects that allow hummingbirds to extract nectar include:
- Small size – They can easily maneuver around feeder openings.
- Hovering ability – Allows them to feed while airborne.
- Long tongue – Can reach deep into feeder reservoirs.
- Rapid tongue flicking – Quickly accumulates multiple sips of nectar.
- Capillary action – Nectar adheres to the tongue without active sucking.
So by leveraging capillary forces and a specialized tongue adapted for nectar, hummingbirds can rapidly draw up sugary water from both natural flowers and artificial feeders.
Slower Feeding at Feeders
It may come as a surprise, but hummingbirds actually feed at a slower average pace from feeders compared to natural flowers. There are a couple reasons for this:
- Flowers require more effort – Hummingbirds need to position themselves precisely to insert their beaks and tongues into the narrow tubular openings. More time and effort is required compared to more openly exposed feeder ports.
- Higher nectar volumes – The large liquid reservoirs in feeders reduce the need to constantly seek out new blossoms. Less time is spent traveling between nectar sources.
- Lower nectar concentration – Feeders provide diluted nectar compared to the more concentrated sugars in flowers. The thinner nectar is more quickly absorbed.
- Lack of competition – Feeders offer a less contested nectar resource compared to limited natural flowers.
So feeders essentially provide an efficient, plentiful, and convenient artificial food source for hummingbirds. The tradeoff is a reduction in natural foraging behaviors.
Tongue Consumes Both Nectar and Insects
While hummingbirds rely heavily on nectar for their nutritional needs, they also consume substantial amounts of small insects and spiders to obtain key proteins.
Remarkably, the same tongue allows them to capture both insects and nectar:
- When seeking nectar, the troughs open to soak up liquid.
- When catching prey, the tube edges seal shut to entrap insects.
So the dual tube structure of the tongue allows it to either mop up nectar or act like forceps to snatch bugs. This provides dietary flexibility and allows hummingbirds to obtain a balance of sugars and essential amino acids.
Unique Adaptations for Feeding
In addition to their specialized tongue, hummingbirds have many other adaptations that facilitate their feeding strategy:
- Sharp vision to identify flowers and feeders.
- Low body weight to hover in place.
- Flexibility provided by a swiveling neck.
- A short, straight bill to access tubular blossoms.
- High metabolisms and rapid heart rates to power their activity.
- Ability to enter torpor to conserve energy when food is scarce.
These characteristics all enable hummingbirds to nimbly feed while precisely sustaining their high energy needs.
Why Feeder Design Matters
For hummingbirds to efficiently feed from artificial nectar sources, feeders must be designed with the needs of hummingbirds in mind:
- Feeder reservoirs need ample nectar volume to reduce refilling frequency.
- Ports and feeding openings should be an appropriate size and shape for hummingbird beaks and tongues to access.
- Perches should provide a stable hovering point near the nectar ports.
- Bright colors and flower motifs should attract hummingbirds from a distance.
- Parts should disassemble for easy cleaning to prevent mold and bacteria.
- The nectar mix should contain an optimal 20-25% concentration of dissolved sugar.
- Minerals and electrolytes in the nectar provide nutritional balance.
- Ant moats, bee guards, and other deterrents should prevent insect infestations.
Well engineered feeders that take into account hummingbird anatomy and feeding behaviors will be readily used by hummingbirds. This provides them with a reliable supplemental food source and allows people to easily observe their graceful movements.
Conclusion
In summary, hummingbirds have an ingenious feeding strategy relying on a specialized tongue adapted for nectar extraction. Combined with unique anatomical traits for maneuverability and hovering, they can adeptly collect sugary nutrition from both natural flowers and artificially designed feeders. Careful feeder selection and maintenance helps attract these energetic pollinators by providing an abundant source of dietary fuel to complement their insect intake. By understanding the nuances of how hummingbirds eat, we can support and sustain these captivating creatures in our gardens and landscapes. Their dazzling aerial displays and speedy movements around flowers and feeders will continue to bring joy and wonder to bird enthusiasts.