Quick Take
- Hummingbirds’ tongues appear clear because they are made of keratin and are very thin.
- They drink nectar at extremely quick speeds, roughly 20 licks per second.
- They have forked tongues to increase the amount of nectar they can drink per second.
Hummingbirds are famous for many things: their speed, how fast they can flap their wings, their gorgeous iridescent feathers, and their tiny stature. But one commonly overlooked feature is their tongue, which oddly enough appears clear. While it may sound crazy, hummingbird tongues often look translucent due to a few factors. This Instagram post by @hummingbirdsxoxo shows a hummingbird feeding up close, and you can just barely make out its tongue. Read here to learn more about why this is.
Hummingbirds have forked tongues that allow them to drink nectar at extremely quick speeds.
©Matt Cuda/Shutterstock.com
Hummingbirds Tongues
In the video above, a hummingbird approaches a human’s water feeder and takes a few sips. Though it’s difficult to see, a flash of tongue can be spotted while the small bird drinks. Hummingbird tongues are a fascinating aspect of their biology. For one, they act as a pump to drink nectar. In the past, it was believed that it acted more like a straw, but that has since been proven wrong. Instead, the tongue is flat as it enters the nectar, and springs open to draw it up.
They drink at a quick speed, roughly 20 licks per second. The process is even quicker since it is forked. The two prongs of the tongue work in tandem to drink nectar and are very efficient at providing nutrients to the hummingbird. Their tongues can extend to about twice the length of their beak, sometimes reaching up to 1.5 inches in some species, allowing them to reach deep into flowers for nectar.
Hummingbirds’ tongues are not truly clear, but rather an optical illusion due to a few factors.
©https://owendeutsch.com/ – Original
Why Are They Clear?
There are several reasons why their tongues look clear or translucent. The sheer thinness of it is one reason. Hummingbirds’ tongues are about the width of a strand of hair, making them difficult to see. The tongue’s size is not the only thing comparable to hair. Their tongues are also made of keratin, the fibrous protein that makes up hair and nails. Due to the size and smooth surface of the tongue, light is able to pass through it easily, especially with a bright background like in the video above. Because there is very little pigment, the tongue does not have a distinct or noticeable color. Finally, combined with the speed at which it moves, it becomes practically invisible to the human eye. So, while there is a bit of nuance in why it may look “clear,” it is definitely an interesting aspect of their physique.
