Category: Birds
These iconic pet songbirds are descended from a type of wild finch endemic to the Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands. Their domestication began in the 1700’s and they eventually found their way to the European mainland by way of Spanish sailors. Initially they were an elitist novelty of British and Spanish kings but over time found their way into the hands of commoners and became highly popular pets throughout Europe. Many varieties have arisen through selective breeding and they remain popular for their ease of care and lilting song.
Sugar, Honey Honey…
Too much sugar in the diet leads to obesity for humans: if we drink a can of soda pop (which is mostly high fructose corn syrup), the fructose is converted into fat by our livers; drink too many too often, and we end up gaining weight. But for hummingbirds, sugar isn’t something to eat sparingly: it is a source of power! Because of their simple, sugar rich diet, hummingbirds have adapted the ability to fuel their muscles with fructose without first converting it to fat - a feat unique among vertebrates. We do not yet know for sure how they process it so fast, though experiments have demonstrated that they do indeed possess this amazing capability. How fast, you ask? Their metabolisms are so extreme, a human-sized hummingbird would have to drink a can of soda pop every minute in order to gain weight!
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