We’re passionate about birds and nature. That’s why we opened a Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in our community.
4215 NW 16th Boulevard
Gainesville, FL 32605
Phone: (352) 381-1997
Fax: (352) 381-1995
Email: Send Message
Store Hours:
Mon - Sat: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
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 research, hummingbirds eat up to 14 times their own body weight in nectar everyday. 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 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.
To reach the nectar at the base of long flower tubes, hummingbirds 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 hummingbird feeder with a transluscent bottom. You may actually be able to witness the rapid lapping action of the hummingbird's tongue. And remember, take no offense, sticking their tongues out all day is a way of life for hummingbirds.
