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Hummingbird nutrition: Development of a purified diet for long‐term maintenance
Author(s) -
Brice A. T.,
Grau C. R.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.1430080304
Subject(s) - biology , methionine , body weight , ascorbic acid , zoology , biochemistry , amino acid , endocrinology , food science
A purified liquid diet containing 25% solids (by weight) was developed for maintenance of adult hummingbirds so that nutritional studies could be conducted. Calypte anna and C. costae were fed the diet for at least 1 year, during which time they maintained body weights and general good health, and they molted normally. A diet containing 3% protein (dry weight basis), supplied by isolated soybean protein plus methionine, met the need for nitrogen. It was found that Calypte anna and C. costae do not need ascorbic acid in their diets.