Only the best nectar will do
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A new study into Hummingbirds has found that they tend to feed from flowers which hang down vertically, even though this costs them more energy than feeding on more accessible blooms.
The reason may be that vertical-hanging flowers keep the rain out – and so their nectar remains undiluted. Among the smallest and most brightly-coloured birds on earth, and capable of hovering for long periods, hummingbirds are crucial pollinators of flowering plants across the Americas.
Scientists originally surmised that the flowers had evolved this way because hummingbirds would have to use less energy to feed from them. But new research has shown that the opposite is in fact the case.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments