Sword-billed hummingbirds are a fascinating species of hummingbird found in the Andes Mountains of South America. As their name suggests, they have an unusually long, thin beak that looks like a sword. This specialized beak allows them to feed on plants with long, tubular flowers that other hummingbirds can’t access. But what exactly do these unique birds eat? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the diet and feeding habits of sword-billed hummingbirds.
The Sword-Like Beak
The most distinguishing feature of the sword-billed hummingbird is its beak. At around 4 inches long, the beak is usually around twice as long as the bird’s entire body. It’s shaped like a thin sword or rapier.
This gives the bird an almost comical appearance, with a tiny body and disproportionately long beak protruding out front. However, this beak is perfectly adapted to feed on flowers with long, tubular corollas. The long beak allows the bird to delve deep into these flowers to access the nectar inside. Other hummingbirds cannot reach the nectar in these flowers, so the sword-billed hummingbird has an advantage.
Some examples of plants pollinated by the sword-billed hummingbird include the passionflower Passiflora mixta, and various species of Brugmansia and Datura. The long floral tubes of these flowers match the length of the bird’s specialized beak.
Nectar
Like all hummingbirds, nectar is the primary food source for sword-billed hummingbirds. Their diet consists of sugary nectar from a variety of specialized tubular flowers. As they feed on nectar, the birds also pollinate these flowers.
The nectar provides a high-energy food source to power the hummingbird’s metabolically demanding hovering flight. Sword-billed hummingbirds, like all hummers, have high metabolic rates. At rest, their hearts beat up to 500 times per minute. So they need a lot of readily available energy from nectar to maintain their active lifestyle.
In addition to tubular flowers, sword-billed hummingbirds will also drink nectar from other flower types such as bromeliads. They use their long tongues to lap up the nectar at a rate of licks of about 13-17 per second.
The sword-billed hummingbird’s preference is for red- and orange-colored tubular flowers, which stand out against the green foliage of the cloud forest. Some specific plants they seek out nectar from include:
- Firecracker flowers (Bomarea)
- Various lilies and allies (Alstroemeria)
- Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia)
- Fuchsia (Fuchsia)
- Royal cape plume (Pennisetum setaceum)
Insects and Spiders
While nectar makes up the majority of their diet, sword-billed hummingbirds also eat small insects and spiders to obtain key nutrients not present in nectar.
Insects and spiders provide a source of protein, as well as minerals and vitamins like calcium, magnesium, and B vitamins. These nutrients support muscle growth, reproduction, and general health.
Some types of small insects and spiders commonly eaten by the sword-billed hummingbird include:
- Mosquitoes
- Fruit flies
- Gnats
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Ants
- Spider eggs
The bird uses its long beak to probe into crevices and gaps in vegetation to find small insects. It also catches them in midair during its aerobatic flight patterns.
While nectar powers the wingbeats, the extra burst of protein from insects helps sword-billed hummingbird muscles keep functioning at peak performance. This is especially important during demanding activities like courtship displays.
Fruit
Occasionally, sword-billed hummingbirds will supplement their diet with small, soft fruits in addition to nectar and insects. The fruits provide another source of quick energy and nutrients.
Some types of fruits consumed when available include:
- Wild berries
- Figs
- Overripe bananas
- Papaya
- Mango
Fruits are likely an opportunistic food source rather than a dietary staple. But variety in their diet provides a more well-rounded nutritional profile for sword-billed hummingbirds.
Specialized Feeding Behaviors
The disproportionately long bill of the sword-billed hummingbird requires some unique feeding behaviors and adaptations:
- The tongue of the sword-billed hummingbird is about 4 inches long, over half the total length of the entire bird. The tongue is grooved and has fringed edges to lap up nectar.
- Their long, specialized beaks mean they cannot feed from regular bird feeders. Special long-tubed feeders must be used in captivity.
- The metabolic cost of hovering and supporting their heavy beak may be 50% higher than that of similar-sized hummingbirds.
- They prefer to feed from the lower half of hanging tubular flowers, rather than above their heads, likely because it takes less energy.
- At certain flowering trees, the birds have been observed establishing territories and chasing away other hummingbirds to monopolize the food source.
These behaviors all help optimize the sword-billed hummingbird’s energy intake from nectar to power its unique lifestyle.
Habitat and Range
Sword-billed hummingbirds are endemic to South America. Their range covers parts of:
- Venezuela
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Chile
- Bolivia
- Argentina
Within this range, they occur in areas of cloud forest and tropical montane forest in the northern Andes Mountains. The birds generally reside at elevations between 1,000-3,300 meters, likely because this habitat supports the tubular flower species they depend on.
Sword-billed hummingbirds prefer higher altitudes than many other tropical hummingbird species. The cool, moist mountain air at these elevations lets them fly more efficiently. This suits their demanding lifestyle and specialized feeding behaviors.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the sword-billed hummingbird has a specialized diet to go along with its unique beak morphology. Feeding almost solely on nectar from long, tubular Andean mountain flowers, they consume a high-energy diet. This powers their hovering flight and supports their increased metabolic demands. The birds supplement this sugary nectar with extra protein from small insects and occasional fruits. Their specialized feeding behaviors and adaptations allow sword-billed hummingbirds to thrive in cloud forest habitats that support the flowers they coevolved with.
