What's happening in this nest? Back to Photos Photo: Damon Calderwood > Idea 1: From the photographer and scientists Those tiny specks you see on the beak are insects called "hummingbird flower mites." We wondered whether the female gathered them to feed to her nestlings. But we discovered that something even more interesting could be at work. Read on. When a hummingbird sips nectar from certain flowers, these types of mites quickly crawl up its beak. They then "get off" as the hummer travels to another nectar-filled flower. (Mites also eat flower pollen!) This behavior helps the mites survive, but scientists have discovered that it "robs" flower nectar that hummingbirds and other insects rely on, too. Photo: Peat W. Hammond Idea 2: From Journey North scientist Laura Erickson The hummingbird has what looks to me like pollen on its beak. The particles I can see clearly are very round, and pollen sticks to the beak after its been dipped in a flower. That's exactly how flowers use hummingbirds to pollinate other flowers. When feeding babies, the mother's stomach contents become a slurry of sweet nectar and insects, with a bit of pollen, which she'll regurgitate to her babies as she feeds them. What do your keen eyes tell you? What tools might help an observer get an even closer view?   This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2008 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.