Quick Answer: Hummingbird Flower
The name of the flower that looks like a bird is the hummingbird flower. This striking flower resembles a hummingbird in flight, with its long tubular “beak” and wings. Some common hummingbird flowers include salvias, penstemons, fuchsias, and lobelias. These nectar-rich blossoms have evolved to attract hummingbirds, which are specialized nectar feeders. The unique shape of the hummingbird flower allows for the bird to hover and dip its beak into the flower to reach the nectar inside. Hummingbird flowers are brightly colored, often red, orange, or pink, and have little to no scent. Their long, tubular shape perfectly complements the hummingbird’s slender, needle-like bill and lets the bird feed while hovering without landing. This co-evolutionary relationship benefits both the bird and the flower – the hummingbird gets food, while the flower gets pollinated. So while it may look like a bird, the hummingbird flower relies on hummingbirds to proliferate. Its specialized traits make the aptly named hummingbird flower the ideal food source for its high-flying pollinator.
The Unique Traits of Hummingbird Flowers
Hummingbird flowers have several unique traits that set them apart from other flowers:
Tubular Shape
The most noticeable characteristic of hummingbird flowers is their long, tubular shape. Unlike wide, flat flowers, their narrow tubes allow a hummingbird easy access to the nectar inside. When feeding, the bird inserts its slender bill deep into the flower and drinks the nectar without having to land on the blossom.
Bright Colors
Hummingbird flowers are brightly colored, often red, vivid pink, orange, or purple. This helps attract the visual hummingbirds to the flowers. Since hummingbirds can see colors in the ultraviolet spectrum, some hummingbird flowers have ultraviolet “guides” on their petals to help lead the birds to the nectar.
Lack of Scent
Most hummingbird flowers have very little to no scent. Hummingbirds do not have a strong sense of smell, so aroma is not needed to attract them. Their vision is their primary sense, so the flowers rely on bright colors rather than perfumes.
Nectar
Hummingbird flowers produce large amounts of sugary nectar, the bird’s primary food source. The nectar has a high sugar concentration, usually 25-40%, providing the quick burst of energy that hummingbirds need.
Sturdy Petals
The petals and blooms of hummingbird flowers are sturdy enough to withstand the pressure and vibration of a hovering hummingbird. Other flowers would shake and damage under the rapid wing beats.
Examples of Common Hummingbird Flowers
Many garden flowers belong to the hummingbird flower group. Some top examples include:
Salvias – With their long tubular blossoms, salvias are hummingbird favorites. Pineapple sage, scarlet sage, Mexican bush sage, and Texas sage are just a few popular varieties.
Fuchsias – The drooping, bell-like flowers of these shade-loving plants are perfectly designed for hummingbird feeding.
Penstemons – Also called beardtongues, penstemon tubes are like miniature drinking straws for hummingbirds.
Columbines – The elegant, downward-facing blooms contain nectar-rich spurs irresistible to hummingbirds.
Lobelias – From ruby-throated varieties to the aptly named cardinal flower, these dainty blooms are hummingbird magnets.
Bee balms – With scarlet or lavender tubular blooms, bee balms draw in both bees and hummingbirds.
Coral Honeysuckle – A vine covered in clusters of slender, tapered blossoms full of sweet nectar.
Trumpet Creeper – This aggressive vine produces showy scarlet trumpets bursting with nectar.
The Special Relationship Between Hummingbirds and Their Flowers
The mutually beneficial relationship between hummingbirds and their flowers reveals an amazing co-evolution. For the birds, the flowers provide an ideal food source and feeding method. At the same time, the blossoms rely on the birds for reproduction through pollination. Here is how this special partnership works:
The Perfect Food Source
Hummingbird flowers provide an ideal food for hummingbirds in the form of nectar. The birds get most of their nutrition in liquid form from nectar. They have rapid metabolisms and high energy needs that require frequent feeding. Hummingbird flowers produce large volumes of nectar with an ideal sugar concentration to fuel the birds.
Specialized Feeding Method
The tubular flower shape and lack of scent complement the hummingbird’s specialized feeding method. Hummingbirds can hover in place and insert their long bills inside the flower to drink, whereas insects must land to feed. This gives hummingbirds exclusive first access to the nectar.
Pollination
As hummingbirds move from flower to flower feeding on nectar, pollen collects on their heads and faces and is transferred to other blossoms. This pollinates the flowers so they can form seeds and reproduce. The flowers depend on this to proliferate.
Co-Evolution
The specialized traits of hummingbird flowers indicate that they evolved specifically to attract hummingbirds. At the same time, hummingbirds developed adaptations like hover-feeding to take advantage of the blossoms. These dual adaptations helped both species thrive through their symbiotic relationship.
How to Attract Hummingbirds with Flowers
You can draw hummingbirds to your garden by planting the flowers they prefer. Here are some tips:
Choose Native Plants – Plant hummingbird flowers that are native to your region. Local hummingbirds are naturally adapted to feed from native plant varieties.
Provide Continuous Bloom – Stagger your plantings so you have flowers blooming from spring through fall to provide a constant nectar supply.
Try Seeds or Bulbs – Many hummingbird flower seeds and bulbs are inexpensive and easy to grow. For quick results, buy potted plants.
Give Them Space – Hummingbirds are territorial, so plant groupings of the same flower spaced well apart to reduce competition.
Avoid Pesticides – Skip the pesticides that could be harmful to hummingbirds. Let some pests live and handpick if necessary.
Go Red and Orange – Opt for bright warm hues like red, orange, coral, and pink that attract hummingbirds. Avoid blue and purple.
Provide Water – Have a small water feature or fountain so the birds can bathe and drink. Use a dripper to create movement.
Be Patient – It can take weeks or months for hummingbirds to discover new flowers, but once they do they’ll return.
Fascinating Facts About Hummingbird Flowers
Hummingbird flowers have sparked much scientific curiosity due to their unique form and function. Here are some fascinating facts about them:
- There are over 1,000 species of hummingbird-pollinated flowers in the Americas alone.
- The tobacco plant has hummingbird flower varieties with up to 11-inch long floral tubes.
- Scarlet gilia flowers have lines that act as “runways” guiding hummingbirds to the nectar.
- The harlequin glorybower flower possesses an elaborate mechanical “pump” system that forces nectar into a hummingbird’s mouth.
- Some tropical hummingbird flowers have evolved to specifically block insects from stealing nectar.
- The Texas yellow star flower only opens briefly at sunset to allow access for migrating hummingbirds.
- Brightly colored bracts (modified leaves) below the actual flowers help attract hummingbirds.
- Experts estimate a hummingbird visits 1,000 to 2,000 flowers a day to meet its energy needs.
The Specialized Beaks of Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds have slender, specialized beaks that complement the tubular flowers they feed from. Here’s how their beaks are adapted:
- Needle-like shape fits perfectly into narrow flower tubes.
- Flexible bill bends to reach nectar at all angles.
- Serrated, fringed tongue laps up liquid nectar.
- Tongue tip capillaries collect nectar through capillary action.
- Beak length correlates to flower depths in each habitat.
- Curved tip allows licking nectar from hard-to-reach spots.
- Swift licking – up to 13-17 licks per second while feeding.
- Grooved roof of upper mandible channels nectar.
These specialized features allow hummingbirds to dip into thousands of unique flower shapes quickly and efficiently while hovering.
Conclusion
The hummingbird flower shows an exquisite example of coevolution between plants and pollinators. With its specialized tubular shape, abundant nectar, bright colors, and sturdy build, it is the ideal partner to the hummingbird’s feeding abilities and energy needs. In fact, hummingbirds and their flowers rely completely on one another – the birds get food while the blossoms get pollinated. This ensures the survival of both species and demonstrates the interconnectedness of plant and animal life. So while it cleverly mimics a hovering hummingbird, the aptly named hummingbird flower ultimately depends on its high-flying pollinator to propagate. This unique and essential relationship continues to link hummingbirds and their flowers.