Hummingbirds have an incredibly fast metabolism and use mostly nectar or sugar water for their energy needs. They can consume up to 80% of their body weight daily in the form of nectar fortified with insects for protein. However, in the wild, the presence of yeast and bacteria can ferment the sugars in the nectar, resulting in a small alcohol concentration.
Dudley’s team conducted an experiment with three male hummingbirds and gave them sugar water with the addition of various strengths of alcohol. Birds preferred concentrations of up to 1%, acting as if it were regular sugar water. When the alcohol concentration increased to 2%, they drank less to maintain similar alcohol intake.
This study suggests that hummingbirds are most likely to encounter alcohol concentrations of no more than 1.5% in their natural habitat. Even when the feeders were left in place and the alcohol concentration dropped, it remained relatively high for such small creatures.
Dudley points out that this is the first demonstration of ethanol consumption by birds in the wild. Further research will explore the role of alcohol in the diet of other birds.
Source: Ferra
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