What Do Hummingbirds Eat in the Wild?

KOMPAS.com – hummingbird is one of about 320 species of small, brightly colored birds in the family Trochilidae.

Hummingbirds look especially beautiful with the brilliant, shimmering colors and intricate plumage of many species.

Reported from Encyclopedia Britannica, all hummingbird have a small body.

Even the biggest, giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) from western South America, it is only about 20 cm long and weighs about 20 g.

The smallest species, the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga, sometimes calypte and helena) from Cuba and Pine Island, measures less than 5.5 cm with about half a beak and tail and weighs about 2 g.

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Reported from The Spruce, hummingbird food in the wild the most common is nectar.

The large amount of sucrose in the nectar provides hummingbirds with the energy necessary for a high metabolism, fast flight and energetic locomotion.

Because nectar is a liquid, it also supplies the water birds need and hummingbirds usually don’t drink from other water sources .

However, nectar does not meet the hummingbird’s need for protein, amino acids, and various vitamins and minerals.

Therefore, hummingbirds must eat other foods to get balanced and healthy nutrition.

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