Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!aplcen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!unmvax!nmt.edu!john
From: john@nmt.edu (John Shipman)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Hummingbird Warning
Message-ID: <1990Aug7.192651.16075@nmt.edu>
Date: 7 Aug 90 19:26:51 GMT
References: <90219.085738HYD@psuvm.psu.edu>
Organization: Zoological Data Processing
Lines: 23

HYD@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
+--
| There is a major difference between nectar and sugar-water.
| Plants which are pollinated by birds tend to produce large
| amounts of strong nectar which has a relativily large amount
| of protein in it.  Hummers also feed on small insects, but I
| haven't seen anything written on how much of their protein
| intake comes from nectar and how much comes from insects.
+--

I have seen several literature reference on this; sorry I
can't recall where, but try Bent's _Life_Histories_ or
Ehrlich's _Birder's_Handbook_.  I recall reading that about
25% of the total food intake of hummers was from insects.  I
don't believe that the protein intake from nectar is
significant.

I have never heard anything about bill softening, or protein
in nectar, anywhere but in your postings.  I would be most
interested to see any references.
-- 
John Shipman/Zoological Data Processing/Socorro, NM/john@jupiter.nmt.edu
``Let's go outside and commiserate with nature.''  --Dave Farber