Mites? on hummingbird beaks

[Neill, Amanda]

Could a tick hitch a ride on the outside of a hummingbird's beak?  This sort
of looks like a tick, though I'm not sure how it would hold on.  Nice
photos.

Amanda Neill


>>>>>>>
Dear everybody, 
On pictures taken of hummingbirds visiting feeders in Monteverde, 
Costa Rica small reddish objects can be seen on the beaks of two 
males. I have heard of mites transporting themselves between flowers 
by hitchhiking with flower-visiting animals, but I am not able to see 
any legs on these objects. Other explanations could be anthers from 
previously visited flowers or some mould colony from the sugar 
solution in the feeder. Can somebody with more experience help me? 
You find the pictures at 
http://arbetsplats.slu.se:4032/Shared%20Documents/1422Mite and 
http://arbetsplats.slu.se:4032/Shared%20Documents/1421Mite 

Thanks in advance 
B?rge Pettersson