Birders

Donkees

(31,898 posts) Mon Jun 10, 2024, 06:30 AM Jun 10

Hummingbird Nectaring Close-up

TGPhotography

12 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Hummingbird Nectaring Close-up (Original Post) Donkees Jun 10 OP

I love hummingbirds. Duncanpup Jun 10 #1

Looks like a drawing with crosshatching nuxvomica Jun 10 #2

A truly wonderful photo. It reveals the wonder of both the bird and the flower. EarnestPutz Jun 10 #3

Also have: ''Nature's Goggles - Nictitating Membranes'' Donkees Jun 10 #5

Eyelashes too! Thanks for the nice reply and new information. EarnestPutz Jun 10 #10

A picture... 2naSalit Jun 10 #4

I love hummingbirds too lonely bird Jun 10 #6

Having a composting area with fruit peelings in the gardens helps provide them with lots of gnats :) Donkees Jun 10 #7

Unfortunately it works the other way as well. I've seen pictures where praying mantis caught hummers. N/T Conjuay Jun 13 #11

Now that is terrible lonely bird Jun 13 #12

Wow! Great photo! surfered Jun 10 #8

A truly lovely image! Thank you for sharing. niyad Jun 10 #9

Duncanpup

(13,438 posts)

1. I love hummingbirds.

Reply to Donkees (Original post)

Mon Jun 10, 2024, 06:39 AM

Jun 10

nuxvomica

(12,726 posts)

2. Looks like a drawing with crosshatching

Reply to Donkees (Original post)

Mon Jun 10, 2024, 06:51 AM

Jun 10

Very nice.

EarnestPutz

(2,509 posts)

3. A truly wonderful photo. It reveals the wonder of both the bird and the flower.

Reply to Donkees (Original post)

Mon Jun 10, 2024, 06:54 AM

Jun 10

Hummingbirds appear to have eyelids. Why wouldn't they have eyelids, you ask. It's noticing them that's hard.

Donkees

(31,898 posts)

5. Also have: ''Nature's Goggles - Nictitating Membranes''

Reply to EarnestPutz (Reply #3)

Mon Jun 10, 2024, 08:07 AM

Jun 10

Anna's Hummingbird

Thinner and more transparent than the fleshier upper and lower eyelids we’re all familiar with, the nictitating membrane allows some degree of visibility while simultaneously protecting the eye. The bills (and therefore the heads) of birds are vulnerable during foraging, flight, excavating, and diving, while feeding young, and gathering material for nests, etc., so extra eye protection is quite valuable.

The nictitating membrane is widespread in nearly all the vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, reptiles (which include birds), and mammals. In humans and other primates, they exist only as a vestigial structure.

https://www.birdnote.org/explore/field-notes/2020/03/natures-goggles-nictitating-membranes