January 04/2007 National Geographic Image
Crown Jewels
Pollen grains decorate the crown of a male velvet-purple coronet resting on a bromeliad in Ecuador, evidence of the bird's value as a reliable pollinator. Hummingbirds spend almost 80 percent of their waking hours perched like this to conserve energy. During chilly nights they can also enter torpor, a state in which their body temperature can drop more than 40°F (22°C), curbing their need for food until dawn. "Hummingbirds are incredibly flexible and adaptable," says Karl Schuchmann, an ornithologist at Germany's Alexander Koenig Zoological Research Institute and the Brehm Fund. "That's the secret of their success."
