While photographing this female Ruby-throated Hummingbird yesterday, I noticed that she appeared to be purposely flying into and out of a spiderweb. When I got home, a google search came up with the following information:

When a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird is building her nest, she collects the spider silk she needs by sticking it all over her beak and breast. When she reaches the nest site, she'll press and stretch the silk onto the other materials, such as lichen and moss, creating a tough, tiny cup. The unique flexibility of spiderweb silk allows the nest to expand as the baby hummers grow from the size of jellybean eggs to full-grown birds in the space of just a few weeks.

The nesting hummingbird in her nest was photographed during my trip to Costa Rica. The flight shot was taken yesterday here on Long Island, NY. Close examination of both photographs will reveal the spiderweb silk.