New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Practice Exam

Insects and nectar from flowers describe a bird with a highly energy-demanding lifestyle and a dual-foraging strategy. Hummingbirds rely on nectar for a rapid, high-sugar energy source that fuels their incredibly fast metabolism and constant hovering in front of blossoms. They also supplement that sweetness with small insects and spiders, providing the protein and nutrients needed for growth, molt, and reproduction. Their specialized features—long, slender bills and tongues, and the ability to hover—are perfectly adapted to extracting nectar from flowers and catching insects in flight. Other birds listed primarily eat seeds, fruits, or general insects but do not rely on nectar as a natural staple. So the combination of nectar for energy and insects for protein lines up best with the hummingbird.