The Fascinating Tongue of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Over the past few days, I’ve been photographing the Ruby-throated Hummingbird with its tongue out, which got me curious about how this tiny bird feeds. So, I decided to dive into some research and share what I’ve learned about this incredible feeding tool.

Structure and Anatomy

The tongue of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a wonder of nature:

• It’s longer than the bird’s beak! The tongue extends beyond the beak to reach deep into flowers.
• It’s split at the tip, like a fork, which helps the bird capture nectar more efficiently.
• The tongue’s shape is tubular and supported by stiff rods, helping it stay firm while feeding.
• The tip of the tongue is lined with flexible, hair-like lamellae, which can open and close like a tiny trap.

The Unique Feeding Mechanism

Contrary to what many people think, these birds don’t just “suck” nectar through their tongue by capillary action. The actual feeding process is much more fascinating:

• The tongue acts as a dynamic, liquid-trapping device.
• When the hummingbird extends its tongue into nectar, the split tips separate and the lamellae unfurl to gather nectar.
• As the tongue retracts, the lamellae refurl, trapping the nectar inside the tongue’s tips.
• This movement is powered by fluid and gas forces within the tongue, not by muscles—how cool is that?

Feeding Speed and Efficiency

Hummingbirds have to be fast and efficient feeders because they burn through energy at an incredible rate. Their tongues are adapted perfectly for this:

• The bird doesn’t just drink nectar; it pumps it out of flowers or feeders with quick, repeated motions.
• A Ruby-throated Hummingbird can extend and retract its tongue up to 13 times per second while feeding.
• This motion can happen as much as 15 to 20 times per second, allowing the bird to gather the energy it needs without wasting any time.

Adaptations for Nectar Feeding

The hummingbird’s tongue is incredibly specialized for its diet of nectar:

• The surface of the tongue is hydrophilic, meaning it attracts and holds onto water, making it perfect for scooping up liquid nectar.
• As the bird pulls its tongue back into its beak, the lamellae wrap around the nectar, keeping it secure until the bird swallows.
• To release the nectar into its mouth, the bird slightly flattens its tongue, squeezing the nectar into its bill.

These intricate details allow Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to feed quickly and efficiently, ensuring they can maintain their high-energy lifestyle. It’s amazing to think about all that’s happening in just a few seconds every time one visits a flower or feeder!

Next time you watch a hummingbird, think about the incredible work that little tongue is doing behind the scenes. It’s just another example of how finely tuned nature can be.

For more about hummingbird tongues and feeding, check out these great resources:

• Fitz Naturalist
• Birds and Blooms