While hummingbirds consume a lot of nectar and have very high blood sugar levels, there are systems in place that help prevent hummingbirds from developing diabetes. Some of these include their energetic lifestyle, certain genes, organs and possibly red blood cell turnover rate.
Katharine Martin
Katharine is an experienced science writer and wildlife enthusiast. Armed with a biology degree and journalism experience, she's been crafting compelling scientific narratives for over a decade. Katharine's knack for investigative journalism and developmental editing shined through her award-winning wildlife coverage.
Visit Full Bio Here
Are House Finches a Threat to Bluebirds? Surprising Answers
House finches are not a direct threat to bluebirds. They are not known for attacking bluebirds or invading nest boxes. However, there might be an indirect risk that house finches pose when it comes to bluebirds, and that involves the transmission of a common bacterium found in house finches.
House Sparrow Nests
House sparrow nests are usually found in nest boxes or other types of cavities and are constructed using various nesting materials such as straw, grass, feathers, litter and fiber. Other characteristics of a house sparrow nest are its size and tunneling architecture.
Live Mealworms vs. Dried Mealworms for Birds: Which is Best
Live mealworms are the best choice for birds during hot weather, and during the nesting season since they are also a source of hydration for nestlings. Freeze-dried mealworms are a good choice for general feeding since they have higher protein content. But there are pros and cons to both.
What Chickadee Nests Look Like – Detailed Resource – Photos, Tables, Charts & More
Chickadee nests are located in nest boxes and tree holes, and are consistently made of green moss with mixed in peeled bark, a layer of fur, and they will have a clean nest cup. This is distinct from house sparrow nests and bluebird nests.
Will Chickadees Use Bluebird Houses? The Comprehensive Guide
Chickadees are cavity nesting birds, meaning they will nest in tree holes, and bird houses (nest boxes), and that means chickadees use bluebird houses as well. In fact, there are many benefits to offering a bluebird house to chickadees rather than using a smaller chickadee/wren house.
Do Chickadees Invade Active Bluebird Nests and Harm Eggs?
Very rarely will chickadees invade active bluebird nests, peck the eggs and take the nest over. However, this extremely rare behavior has been reported by bluebirders. All cavity nesting birds can potentially behave like this, but there are ways to protect active nests.
Are House Sparrows and Starlings Predators of Bluebirds? What Ecology and Science Says
House sparrows and European starlings are often misclassified as predators of bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. However, they are not predators by definition. Instead, they are invasive competitive species.
Most Chickadees Will Accept A Wren Guard: Tips, How-To and Pictures
While chickadees are more skittish compared to bluebirds, most chickadees will accept a wren guard. However, every chickadee is different, and not all tolerate wren guards. Observation is key when testing a new wren guard, and there are important steps to help chickadees tolerate them better.
6 Ways Bluebirds Find Food In The Wild: Incredible Secrets Behind Bluebird Survival
While many bluebird hosts feed bluebirds live mealworms, bluebirds find food in the wild using their keen eyesight that helps them spot prey while perched several yards above as well as using 6 different foraging techniques to capture prey.