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Monday, March 26, 2012
Hummingbirds are very small birds with a high metabolism. A great deal of energy is expended when flying, so they must feed almost constantly. Hummingbirds can consume up to twice their body weight in nectar every day. They usually feed on nectar and insects. Hummingbirds actually have a long flexible tongue that is good for reaching into long flowers for food. To bring nectar up to their mouth, hummingbirds' tongues acts like a fluid trap, rather than a straw.
Recent research shows that the tongue tip is a liquid-trapping device that changes configuration and shape dramatically as it moves in and out of fluids. Hummingbird tongues are forked at the tip and covered with feathery structures called lamellae that help to form grooves on either side of the tongue.
The video shows that, upon entering nectar, the tongue tips spread apart and the lamellae, unfurl to collect nectar. When pulled out of the liquid, the split tongue tips zip back up and the lamellae roll inward, to trap nectar inside.
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- Where should I hang my hummingbird feeder? http://bit.ly/H2U4P4
- Hummingbird Information on Habitat and Habits http://bit.ly/H2Ua9s
- What is the nectar recipe for hummingbirds? http://bit.ly/H7xvp3
- How fast can a hummingbird fly? http://bit.ly/H2UoNR
Source: The hummingbird tongue is a fluid trap, not a capillary tube - http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/04/27/1016944108.abstract
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