Exploring Nature: All About Hummingbirds, Part 2

A false assumption made by many people is that hummingbirds do not have a sense of smell.

Even reputable scientists once held this bogus belief. It took researchers at the University of California- Riverside to refute it. Their landmark investigation showed that hummers both in the wild and in aviaries can detect the scent of perilous insects.

The birds immediately flew away once the scent of dangerous insects was detected. Among the insects posing a threat were Argentine and Formica ants and other aggressive species.