a comprehensive resource of avian nutrition research for captive bird populations

Hummingbirds

Trochilidae

Apodiformes - Trochilidae - Hummingbirds

Wild diet: The Hummingbird rapidly, extracts a highly concentrated sugar in nectar. To meet daily energetic needs, Hummingbirds consume the nectar of around 1000-2000 flowers each day. An experiment showed that the hummingbird selected food based primarily on sugar concentration, and secondarily on rate of intake and position. The nectar secreted by flowers pollinated by the Hummingbird is rich in sucrose. In an experiment with 3 species of Mexican Hummingbirds, preferences towards different sugar compositions were as followed: sucrose> hexose mix (glucose & fructose)> glucose> fructose. “The Hummingbird intestine has the highest active glucose transport route and lowest passive glucose permeability reported for any vertebrate.”

Feeding strategy: The Hummingbird is one of the smallest endothermic vertebrates. Due to the fact they forage by energetically hovering, their active and basal metabolic rates are amongst the highest recorded. Despite the fact the Hummingbird has such a high energy requirement; they spend ~20% waking hours actually feeding. To feed, they have adapted a foraging technique called hovering, in which their pointed wings move in a horizontal plane- making a figure of 8 with the tips of their wigs. The wing beat rate of smaller bird’s averages at 70-80 wing beats per second, whilst the Giant Hummingbird averages at 10-15 beats per second. Due to this way of feeding, their feet have evolved to only enable them to perch, they cannot walk or climb particularly well, if at all. The Hummingbird reaches the liquid nectar with thin, elongated bills which protect their specialised and sensitive tongue. Hummingbirds often face conflict between losing accumulated nectar to competitors and waiting for undefended floral nectar to accumulate to higher profit levels. Foraging for floral nectar entails adaptive use of short, elapsed time intervals.

Species dietary differences: Three “hermit” Hummingbirds from the Arima Valley, Trinidad have long decurved bills and feed in the forest and close to the ground, the flowers they feed on mainly have corolla-tubes which fit close to the beak. The 6 other species recorded in this area have straighter bills and mainly visit more open areas.

Wild weight ranges: Most species between: 2.5- 6.5g Members of the genera, Eutoxeres, Ensifera & Pterophanes between: 12- 14g Giant Hummingbird between: 19-21g

Captive data information

Examples of diets in use

There are no diets in use yet for the Hummingbirds.


Please keep us up-to-date and contact us with your own updates or new diets used for the Hummingbirds.

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