Hummingbirds know their drink-fly limits
BBC Wildlife|September 2023
New research shows that one particular species can function under the influence - up to a point
Stuart Blackman
Hummingbirds know their drink-fly limits

When a hummingbird sips nectar from a flower, it’s drinking more than just sweet stuff – there’s a drop of the hard stuff in there, too. Nectar, like overripe fruit, is prone to fermentation, producing alcohol.

Happily, new research suggests that the birds might know when they’ve had enough.

This story is from the September 2023 edition of BBC Wildlife.

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This story is from the September 2023 edition of BBC Wildlife.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.