Blue Faced Honeyeater Photo courtesy of: www.plantbiology.siu.edu
Honeyeaters are important pollinators of many Australian flowering plants. All 170 species of honeyeaters have a unique adaptation: a long tongue with a brush-like tip that they use to get nectar from flowers. The tongue can be extended into the nectar about 10 times per second!
Honeyeaters aren’t the only birds that help pollinate. Honeycreepers, sunbirds, Brush-tongued parrots, and hummingbirds are just a few of the birds all over the world who are pollinators. There are 2,000 bird species globally that feed on nectar, the insects, and the spiders associated with nectar bearing flowers.
For more Bee-lieve it or Not facts, come join the Houston Zoo in celebrating National Polinator Week on June 26th and 27th. We will have tables and chats from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. all about our favorite pollinators. Bee sure to record your pollinating adventures in a nature blog to share at the Swap Shop!
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Beautiful photo!Thanks for bringing attention to these often-overlooked pollinators!