Did a google search to see if hummingbirds have tongues, and they do, but, his bird wasn't drinking nectar, he was just guarding the feeder from the other hummers. Still, I was was watching wide-eyed LOL

donnas

And you are sure it was not its tongue flicking out which they do often?

LOL....I didn't know what it was hummersteve!! It's the first time I'd ever seen a hummingbird do that. Let's just say that hummingbird had one long tongue!!! I could say more, but I don't want to sound dirty LOL

donnas, It was probably its tongue. BTW, I like the way you think, you're my kind of woman!!

Here ya go...

Thank you ctnchpr. That is exactly what I saw. I am now paying more attention to the hummers that visit my feeder. I know I have at least 3 hummingbirds. I have noticed that right after the other hummers drink the nectar, sometimes their little tongues will flick out. But it comes out and goes back in so fast, and I don't think nearly as far out as the one in this picture and the one male at my feeder. I really have to be watching closely to see their tongues. I can't believe that all these years I've been feeding them, I never saw that before.

BTW, did you build that feeder using pcv plumbing pipes? If so, did you get the little red flowers from old feeders? I would love to try making one. Thanks.

donna, Yes, I made the PVC feeders, but none have any flowers. I did a test first to see if the hummers would come to the pipe. I drilled some holes in a scrap piece of PVC, and painted around the holes with my wife's "Fire Engine Red" nail polish - with her permission, of course. They found it very quickly.

On the first real feeder, I used wire connectors (electricians sometimes call them "wire nuts") for the ports...

On this one, I used test tube stoppers...

And caps from Carmex Lip Balm were used on the feeder...

Here is a link that might be useful: ...in this video.

OMGoodness, these pvc feeders are awesome! The possibilities are endless. What kind of gluing did you use? My husband is going to make me some. I am afraid off picking out something that will cause the hummers harm.

Thanks, hummingbirdacre! Use regular PVC glue, and after you assemble the feeder, let it sit for a few days so the solvent vapors will escape.

I have been feeding hummers for close to 30 years now and had never seen the tongue until about 7 or so years ago. I thought the beak was like a straw. I wanted to try a saucer feeder, but had never seen one at the stores I went to. Had dial-up and used the old "newsgroups". Someone on there had a saucer feeder for free and I responded (New York, I believe). He responded back to send him $6 for shipping and I did. About 3 weeks after I sent the money - no feeder. He did send the feeder finally and it had clear plastic on the bottom. My patio furniture was only about 6 feet from the feeders and you could see that little string of a tongue darting all over the inside of the feeder. Also got to see a couple catch bugs with the tongue. After that, I did buy another larger capacity saucer feeder and I love both, but the racoon damaged them and I have not repaired them.