Study finds hummingbirds tolerate low alcohol levels in nectar but avoid higher concentrations
Summary
A new study explores whether hummingbirds are affected by alcohol in their food sources. Since yeast naturally ferments sugar into ethanol in both flowers and backyard feeders, hummingbirds likely encounter alcohol regularly. Researchers tested hummingbirds' response to sugar water with varying alcohol concentrations, finding they readily consume nectar with 1% alcohol by volume but significantly reduce consumption at 2%. The findings suggest hummingbirds have adapted to tolerate small amounts of naturally occurring alcohol in their diet.
Source
Twitter / XStudy finds hummingbirds tolerate low alcohol levels in nectar but avoid higher concentrationssciencedaily.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledTo University of California, Berkeley biologist Robert Dudley, this raises a host of questions. How much alcohol do hummingbirds consume in their daily quest for sustenance? Are they attracted to alcohol or repelled by it?
At 1% by volume, no. At 2% by volume, they consume much less.
The implication is that hummingbirds have adjusted to small amounts of alcohol likely present in flowers and backyard feeders.
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