
landscape
Nectar Quest
Delicate feeding behavior reveals the hummingbird's specialized anatomy
The long, needle-like bill and extendable tongue of this hummingbird are perfectly adapted for accessing nectar deep within flowers. This co-evolutionary relationship between hummingbirds and flowering plants has shaped both species over millions of years, with certain flowers evolving specifically to attract hummingbird pollinators while the birds developed increasingly specialized feeding apparatus.
October 3, 2020