Iain, Although no hummingbirds currently inhabit the Old World, the oldest known hummingbird fossil was found in Germany. Many South African plants attract hummingbirds, and it is possible that they evolved with hummingbirds, now vanished. Similarly, American pronghorns (similar to antelope) run much faster than any extant predator, but until 10 or 11,000 years ago, cheetahs chased them across the North American landscape. -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of iain@auchgourishbotanicgarden.org Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2013 1:25 PM To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org Subject: [pbs] Fw: Avian pollinators - Humming Birds It would be a great help if anyone on PBS could advise me on any of the following please. (1) what the temperature regimen is, if known, that initiates pollinating activity amongst the Nth. Am. Humming Bird species in relation to the genus Lilium ?; (2) do all Humming Bird species function seasonally or selectively as pollinators of native lilies or in conjungtion with other flowering plants?; (3) are there particular Humming Bird species which pollinate lilies, or do they all do so?; (3) have any lily species been noted as preferentially visited, or do they take what they need any old place ?; (5) are all, or any Humming Bird species migratory ? I apologise for my total dumb ignorance about your fascinating wee birdies but I am working on the chapter on pollination + pollen dispersal at present and have become painfully aware how little information is available on this side of our beautiful Blue Planet. Sadly there are no Palaearctic Humming Bird species although we have several remarkable day time / evening flying analogs, which are for example the Humming Bird Hawkmoths - in the genus Macroglossum (Macroglossum stellatarum) and also the Narrowborder Bee Hawkmoth - in the genus Hemaris (Hemaris tityus). Many thanks + fingers crossed, Iain