Empress Brilliant Hummingbird Shows Off Bifurcated Tongue

Occurred on April 3, 2023 / Mindo, Ecuador

Info from Licensor: "The Empress Brilliant (Heliodoxa imperatrix) is a species of hummingbird that is known for its long, bifurcated (split into two parts) tongue. This unique tongue structure allows the bird to feed on nectar deep within flowers that other birds cannot access. The two parts of the tongue can move independently and quickly, enabling the bird to lap up nectar from flowers at a rapid rate. It is a relatively large hummingbird, with males sporting a metallic green body and a purple-blue throat patch."