The tongue of a hummingbird (here a Green-breasted Mango hummingbird) is often extremely longe, because the nectar is hidden deeply in the flower. A hummingbird drinks the nectar with rapid movements. The tongue itself has tubes wich run down their lengths and help the hummingbirds drink the nectar. They are not using capillary action, which was believed before high-speed photography proofed that the tubes are actively opened and closed like a pump.
The tongue of a hummingbird (here a rufous-tailed hummingbird) is often extremely longe, because the nectar is hidden deeply in the flower. A hummingbird drinks the nectar with rapid movements. The tongue itself has tubes wich run down their lengths and help the hummingbirds drink the nectar. They are not using capillary action, which was believed before high-speed photography proofed that the tubes are actively opened and closed like a pump.
Size: 4617px × 3078px
Location: Cartago Province, Orosi, Costa Rica
Photo credit: © Johannes Oehl / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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