The Swordbill Hummingbird's Specialized Beak
In The Swordbill Hummingbird's Specialized Beak, narrator Sir David Attenborough visits Ecuador, where over 100 species of hummingbirds compete for limited nectar in flowers. Learn about the swordbill hummingbird, which has a beak longer than its body, and can reach nectar in flowers that other hummingbirds can’t. Though it has an exclusive food supply, the long beak is hard to keep clean and makes it difficult for the bird to preen feathers. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: Why do hummingbirds have to compete with one another?
A: There are a hundred species of hummingbirds alone competing for the same nectar. Each flower only produces a little bit of nectar at a time.
Q: What makes the swordbill unique in the bird world?
A: The swordbill is the only bird with a beak longer than its body. The long beak allows it to reach places others can’t, so the swordbill has a supply of food all to itself.
Q: What is a disadvantage of the long beak of the swordbill?
A: The long beak is hard to clean, and it also doesn’t allow the swordbill to preen itself the way other birds can. Instead, the swordbill has to scratch itself.
More Like This
In Pollinators and Plants, Nature’s Perfect Pair, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the fascinating teamwork — and clever defenses — between plants and pollinators! Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed plants for laying eggs and gathering nectar, but the plant defends itself with a sap that challenges the caterpillars. Meanwhile, the Heliconia plant carefully rations nectar to keep the hummingbird returning, as only this bird’s uniquely shaped beak can pollinate it! This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
In The Spectacular Dance of Spatuletail Hummingbirds, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the marvelous spatuletail hummingbird, a tiny bird with big challenges! While the females fly with ease thanks to their lightweight bodies, the males have long colorful tail feathers they use to perform amazing dances to impress a mate. These fancy moves are exhausting, but the male pulls out all the stops, hoping his performance will win the female's attention. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
In Pollinators and Plants, Nature’s Perfect Pair, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the fascinating teamwork — and clever defenses — between plants and pollinators! Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed plants for laying eggs and gathering nectar, but the plant defends itself with a sap that challenges the caterpillars. Meanwhile, the Heliconia plant carefully rations nectar to keep the hummingbird returning, as only this bird’s uniquely shaped beak can pollinate it! This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
In The Spectacular Dance of Spatuletail Hummingbirds, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the marvelous spatuletail hummingbird, a tiny bird with big challenges! While the females fly with ease thanks to their lightweight bodies, the males have long colorful tail feathers they use to perform amazing dances to impress a mate. These fancy moves are exhausting, but the male pulls out all the stops, hoping his performance will win the female's attention. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.