nectarivory

Nectarivory is the feeding strategy of obtaining energy primarily from nectar, the sugar-rich fluid produced by flowers. Nectarivorous animals rely on nectar as a major carbohydrate source and often supplement it with pollen, insects, or fruit. The term covers a range of taxa, including birds, mammals, and some insects, whose foraging behavior centers on floral nectar.

In birds, nectarivory is most conspicuous in hummingbirds of the Americas and in Old World groups such as sunbirds and honeyeaters. These species typically possess morphological adaptations that facilitate nectar extraction, such as long, specialized beaks and brush-tipped or extendable tongues. Their high metabolic demands drive frequent visits to flowers, and their foraging patterns can shape plant pollination dynamics.

Nectar-feeding bats also play a key role in many ecosystems. Glossophagine bats and related species visit nocturnally blooming flowers, using elongated snouts and tongues to access nectar and, in turn, pollinating the plants they feed on. nectarivorous insects, including hawk moths and some bees and butterflies, supplement nectar collection with pollen for protein, contributing to pollination as they forage.

Plants that rely on nectarivory often evolve floral traits that attract specific pollinators, such as tubular corollas, bright coloration, strong scent, and nectar stored in deep or narrow nectaries. Nectar sugar concentration varies widely among species, influencing which visitors are most efficient, with typical ranges reflecting adaptation to different pollinators.

Ecologically, nectarivory supports energy transfer and cross-pollination, contributing to plant reproduction, diversity, and the structure of many ecosystems.