February 21, 2009
Hummingbird tales: What's for breakfast?
The chicks continue to grow at an amazingly fast pace, and the physical transformation in their anatomy is quite interesting. Their beaks just a week ago were short, blunt and yellow; they've turned dark in a little more than a day and are already lengthening into the flower-probing proboscis that is the little bird's trademark feature. Five days ago their heads were bare, wrinkled black skin; now, the beginnings of feathers -- looking a lot like scales -- cover their domes. If you take a close look at the tip of the beak, you'll see a drop of saliva the chicks worked up in anticipation of breakfast. They're also beginning to open their eyes, too. (Click on image for full-size version)
Posted by Mike Lief at February 21, 2009 11:26 AM
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