By The Featured Creature
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photo: John Kormendy

photo: Stephen Davies

The Sword Billed Hummingbird is holding down the genus Ensiferaas the only living member. It’s noted for its exceptionally long bill which can reach 4 inches long. In comparison, the common Ruby-throated Hummingbird only reaches 3 inches in length – beak and body combined!The crazily exaggerated bill evolved to help the bird feed from tubular flowers like this fuchsia. Sword-bills are the only birds that can reach nectar deep inside the corollas, and in the process of doing that, they transfer pollen from flower to flower. So the flowers are very thankful for the creature’s existence.

And with such a long bill, the Sword Billed Hummingbird also has an extremely long tongue! When the bird perches, it holds its bill vertically in an effort to reduce strain on its neck. Preening its feathers would be difficult with that bill, so the creature actually uses its feet to groom itself, as shown below:

and check out this picture of the bird’s skeleton – amazing!

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