Violet-crowned Hummingbirds are among southern Arizona’s many pollinators, hovering at tubular flowers while sipping nectar from deep inside them. Unique wing structure provides special maneuvering skills, allowing them to reach otherwise inaccessible blossoms. Long bills and specialized tongues reach deeply into flowers, while pollen is rubbed onto their heads to be transferred to the next plant. As most pollinating insects do not see red, hummingbird flowers have evolved red color to give the birds an advantage and to exclude pollinators that might not transfer the pollen to the right plant species. The hovering hummingbird and the red, tubular flower from which it feeds represent a long coevolution for mutual benefit.
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keywords (additional): |
pollination, hummingbirds |
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