Yes, this bird is peeing. "Don't they normally use the cloaca?" you might ask. Well, hummingbirds expel a lot of their body weight in clear urine daily. Because their diet consists entirely of massive amounts of water-heavy nectar, their kidneys filter excess liquid to keep them lightweight enough to fly.
They don't eat plants. They suck nectar. My curiosity got the better of me.
"Although a high-quality source of energy, nectar is deficient in many macro- and micronutrients it tends to be low in lipids, and although it may contain trace quantities of amino acids, some essential acids are severely or entirely lacking. Though hummingbird protein requirements appear to be quite small, at 1.5% of the diet, nectar is still an inadequate source most if not all hummingbirds therefore supplement their diet with the consumption of invertebrates."
17 Comments
ickplant@lemmy.world · 86 pts · 34d
Yes, this bird is peeing. "Don't they normally use the cloaca?" you might ask. Well, hummingbirds expel a lot of their body weight in clear urine daily. Because their diet consists entirely of massive amounts of water-heavy nectar, their kidneys filter excess liquid to keep them lightweight enough to fly.
Source: https://www.audubon.org/magazine/do-birds-pee-hummingbirds-do-lot
thagoat@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 40 pts · 34d
I always thought it might be cool to have a hummingbird land on me. Just changed my mind. 😎
Murse@slrpnk.net · 28 pts · 34d
It's only warm for a second; then it's cool!
rollerbang@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 33d
So it's like AC/sweat, neat.
Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 34d
Adult hummingbirds prefer to perch on a twig, so you can get it to perch on your finger. The pee will miss you and fall to the ground.
HulkSmashBurgers@reddthat.com · 21 pts · 34d
The cutest golden shower 😂🤣.
DickFiasco@sh.itjust.works · 41 pts · 34d
Imagine finding a raspberry as big as you.
hydrashok@sh.itjust.works · 13 pts · 34d
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_and_the_Giant_Peach
It’s a great book!
LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz · 10 pts · 33d
The dream.
tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 33d
Maybe then I can avoid getting seeds stuck in my teeth
notsosure@sh.itjust.works · 23 pts · 34d
Urinating tiny etc etc.
sunsofold@lemmy.zip · 16 pts · 34d
So small and delicate it's a wonder it isn't crushed by the weight of our gaze.
HugeNerd@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 33d
I always wonder how can an animal get protein, minerals, and vitamins from such a restricted diet?
Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org · 2 pts · 33d
Well, all plants are protein-complete and also the little guy probably doesn't need much haha
HugeNerd@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 31d
They don't eat plants. They suck nectar. My curiosity got the better of me.
"Although a high-quality source of energy, nectar is deficient in many macro- and micronutrients it tends to be low in lipids, and although it may contain trace quantities of amino acids, some essential acids are severely or entirely lacking. Though hummingbird protein requirements appear to be quite small, at 1.5% of the diet, nectar is still an inadequate source most if not all hummingbirds therefore supplement their diet with the consumption of invertebrates."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird
Damage@feddit.it · 4 pts · 33d
That's a small bird and a large raspberry
Tiral@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
Need a banana for scale.