Wednesday 9 September 2020

Hummingbird Tops?

It appears that the Black metaltail hummingbird, in the Andes of South America, has acquired a new record. This tiny bird shows an energy-conserving phenomenon called 'daily torpor'. On cold nights, its body temperature can go as low as 3.3 degrees Centigrade (https://www.sciencenews.org/article/hummingbirds-black-metaltail-cold-torpor). During the day time, when it is actively feeding on the nectar from flowers, its body temperature can shoot up to 40 degrees Centigrade. This is a bird whose rapid wing beats allow it to fly forewards, backwards, upside down and to hover.

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