Hummingbird beak shape is designed to close quickly, making the bird to catch insects within a split second. Beak closes elastically but controlled with incredible speed and power.
The study, published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology reveals that the hummingbird beak is designed to take food in the flowers. But he can not live by nectar alone consume. To meet the needs of protein and adequate nutrition, the animal must eat small insects.
"Hummingbird requires a protein equivalent to 300 flies a day to stay alive," said Gregor Yanega, author of the study from the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, Nort Carolina.
However, how long, thin beak designed for sucking nectar, like a hummingbird beak, also suitable for capturing insects? In 2004, Yanega and Margaret Rubega, a biologist at the University of Connecticut, reported that the answer lies in a flexible part-hummingbirds.
With high-speed video of the three species of hummingbirds in catching flies, the researchers found that hummingbird beak curved down to 25 percent when it is open and broad at the base and expand the surface to catch insects.
Another thing that was found is when a hummingbird beak to bend to the maximum, half of it as per the shot back to its original position. "Beak closes in less than a hundredth of a second," he said.
With Matthew Smith and Andy Ruina of Cornell University, Yanega reveal the secrets of the speed of hummingbird beak shut. They developed a mathematical model of elastic energy when stretched beak open until closing time.
The trick lies in how the beak is formed. In contrast to insectivorous birds, which have cartilage hinge at the base of the beak, the beak of hummingbirds have solid bones. "Beak super thin but pliable."
*** [SCIENCEDAILY | NESCENT | KORAN TEMPO 3602]
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Hummingbird beak shape is designed to close quickly, making the bird to catch insects within a split second. Beak closes elastically but controlled with incredible speed and power.
The study, published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology reveals that the hummingbird beak is designed to take food in the flowers. But he can not live by nectar alone consume. To meet the needs of protein and adequate nutrition, the animal must eat small insects.
"Hummingbird requires a protein equivalent to 300 flies a day to stay alive," said Gregor Yanega, author of the study from the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, Nort Carolina.
However, how long, thin beak designed for sucking nectar, like a hummingbird beak, also suitable for capturing insects? In 2004, Yanega and Margaret Rubega, a biologist at the University of Connecticut, reported that the answer lies in a flexible part-hummingbirds.
With high-speed video of the three species of hummingbirds in catching flies, the researchers found that hummingbird beak curved down to 25 percent when it is open and broad at the base and expand the surface to catch insects.
Another thing that was found is when a hummingbird beak to bend to the maximum, half of it as per the shot back to its original position. "Beak closes in less than a hundredth of a second," he said.
With Matthew Smith and Andy Ruina of Cornell University, Yanega reveal the secrets of the speed of hummingbird beak shut. They developed a mathematical model of elastic energy when stretched beak open until closing time.
The trick lies in how the beak is formed. In contrast to insectivorous birds, which have cartilage hinge at the base of the beak, the beak of hummingbirds have solid bones. "Beak super thin but pliable." *** [SCIENCEDAILY | NESCENT | KORAN TEMPO 3602]
