Hummingbirds
Birds of the Month - March 2008
Stick Out Your Tongue
Hummingbirds are truly some of the most amazing creatures on the planet. Individually, they are the smallest of all birds, and yet, with over 325 species, they are the second largest family of birds in the world.According to one research study, hummingbirds eat up to 14 times their own body weight in nectar every day. In order to accomplish this amazing feat, hummingbirds’ bills and tongues have evolved into incredibly efficient feeding tools.
Despite popular belief, hummingbirds do not feed by sucking up nectar with their bills; instead, they actually lap it up with their tongues. They feed by dipping their forked, open-grooved tongues into nectar at up to 12 times a second. These grooves create a capillary action which draws the nectar up the tongue and into the mouth with every lapping action.
In order to reach nectar at the base of long flower tubes, hummingbirds can extend their tongues past their bill about a distance equal to the length of the bill.
A great way to see this amazing tongue in action is to use a Wild Birds Unlimited Hummingbird Feeder or a WBU Window Hummingbird Feeder at your home. Due to the feeders’ clear plastic bases, you will actually be able to witness the rapid lapping action of your hummingbird visitors. And remember, take no offense, sticking their tongues out all day is a way of life for hummingbirds.