Two things surprised me Their tongues are amazing!  The way it gathers up the nectar, and especially how the bill then squeezes the nectar from the tongue and into its mouth while the bird is extending the tongue, again.  That was a "whoa!" moment! And torpor.  I knew about it, but to imagine how cold this little bird must become, every night.  Certainly a dangerous but essential time for them.

Amazing stuff! I wonder if the torpor is also an adaptation that allows them to avoid heat-sensing predators like snakes while they are so vulnerable at night!

I was not aware of how hummingbird’s tongues function to “sip” nectar. I will be boring all my friends with descriptions of hummingbirds I learned in these lessons.

It was interesting to learn how their tongues work. Also, I didn’t realize that the nightly torpor was because they can’t eat at night, and if the don’t eat, they die. The wing structure was also interesting and how they hover.

I didn't know about the nightly torpor; thought that was only in winter. It makes sense, however, since they don't feed at night. I'm glad to see the myth of hummingbirds riding on the backs of other birds to be debunked. However, there was a lack of information or discussion on the sounds they make. I have heard some unusual sounds.

I didn't realize that hummingbirds actually eat  some small bugs and spiders to add protein to their diets, or that they worked with sapsucker woodpeckers to gain some of their food.

I’m very impressed with torpor and curious about the physiological cues that get the bird in and out again from this state.

I knew hummingbirds had a fast metabolism, but I was struck by Dr. Shankar’s example: A person with the same metabolic rate as a hummingbird would have to eat 300 packets of potato chips a day to sustain their energy. It gave me a new appreciation for how hard hummers have to work to find enough food.

I didn't know that some think that they hitch rides while migrating. The bone structure, muscle, and difference in attachment to wing bones was enlightening.

I found the information about the anatomy of hummingbirds muscles for flight interesting.

I am fascinated by the twisting wing motion that produces lift on upward, as well as downward strokes. I was also surprised to learn about the dimorphic bills in the Carib hummingbirds.

I was amazed by how their wings twist in the upstroke and there is double lift generated in their wings...was wonderful to know that their wings is mainly all hand structure. Also I loved the mechanism by which a hummer drinks nectar - like two parallel straws that are much more evolved than you can imagine! Plus the fact that their tongues wrap around their brain when not protruding!

I learned how the bo e structure allows them to hover

I posted some images below from Arenal Lodge in Costa Rica to show that the iridescence is not easy to picture from the wrong angle. Hopefully of interest to people.

I posted on the discussion page and cannot move on.

How wonderful to learn about hummingbirds.  There is much to their functions and survival.

Do they build nests so they will have a place to do their torpor?

I was shocked to learn they can beat their wings 30 to 130 times/second.  They are such amazing animals.

It’s very interesting that hummingbirds temp. can drop to almost freezing for 20 to 30 minutes and will not react to stimulation unless their body warms up to 40 degrees or so. Which can leave them more prone to predators at night.

The temperature to which a hummer can lower its body surprised me.

function of tongue

Hummingbird / Pachystachys lutea (Golden Shrimp Plant). Photo: Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.

Hummingbird / Pachystachys lutea (Golden Shrimp Plant). Photo: Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.

I didn't know hummingbirds would die in a few hours if they are unable to feed because they do not have fat stores. It was surprising they have a high metabolism, so we need to support them with water and trumpet-type flowers with high nectar quality coming from our flowers from our region.