Hummingbirds catch flying bugs with the help of fast-closing beaks
Researchers discovered that hummingbird beaks can 'snap-buckle' to catch insects in mid-air, using elastic energy stored in the bone. This phenomenon allows for faster and more powerful insect capture than could be achieved by jaw muscles alone.
SourceNational Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent)·JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology·DateJul 19, 2011