Why in News?

• A study has recently found that the loss of a key gene, FBP2 makes hummingbirds more efficient at breaking down sugar to use it for energy

Highlights

• Hummingbird, native to American continent, has approximately 350 species which are found in Iridescent colours. These birds are comparable to India’s Sunbirds.
• Aztecs referred to them as Huitzilin or ‘A ray of sun’.
• These are small birds, barely 5cm long and weigh 2 grams.
• Their signature ‘Hum’ is created by beating the wings upto 50 times per second
• They can hover majestically as they sip nectar from a flower (mostly Tubular flowers such as Lantana and rhododendron), and even fly backward.
• Relative to their body mass, hummingbirds have the highest metabolic rate (calories burnt per minute) among vertebrates. Most of this energy comes from nectar.
• Rapid sugar uptake by their digestive system ensures that they utilise energy from nectar ingested just a few minutes ago.
• Hummingbirds are capable of vocal mimicry like parrots and some songbirds.
• They are also able to align their muscular movements with auditory sensations that come to their ears creating a dance
• Hummingbirds are capable of vocal mimicry like parrots and some songbirds.
• They are also able to align their muscular movements with auditory sensations that come to their ears creating a dance.