Hummingbirds know their drink-fly limits

New research shows that one particular species can function under the influence - up to a point

- Stuart Blackman

When a hummingbird sips nectar from a flower, it’s drinking more than just sweet stuff – there’s a drop of the hard stuff in there, too. Nectar, like overripe fruit, is prone to fermentation, producing alcohol.

Happily, new research suggests that the birds might know when they’ve had enough.