It goes without saying for those who enjoy watching birds in their yard that Hummingbirds can exhibit strong competitiveness. They're constantly darting around — and when they aren’t charmingly flitting from one flower to another, they’re ensuring every Another hummingbird in the vicinity usually keeps its distance from their feeding spot. (At least that’s how it frequently appears.)
One type of female hummingbird , however, has come up with an intriguing method to ward off competitors. Below are some key points regarding white-necked jacobin hummingbirds and why they captivate scientists.
The Strength of Feathers and Gender
Because Hummingbirds are always engaged in battles with one another. For sustenance, these birds continually seek methods to surpass their competitors and secure the necessary resources for survival. Interestingly, female white-necked jacobin hummingbirds employ a particularly intriguing strategy; certain individuals assume male feathers to "deceive" males into perceiving them as more intimidating.
Consequently, these females become less likely to withstand an assault when they're feeding. Notably, approximately one out of every five females opts for this misleading appearance.
This is how it occurs. Every young white-necked jacobin initially looks like an adult male, displaying striking blue and white feathers. As they mature, their appearance changes. Twenty percent of females retain this vibrant feathering as they reach adulthood. Meanwhile, eighty percent of females alter their look, adopting more subdued shades of green and white instead.
What makes hummingbird feathers so shimmery?
Researching Female White-Necked Jacobins
In a 2021 research article published in Current Biology A team of scientists headed by Dr. Jay Falk monitored the eating behaviors of white-necked jacobin birds. By employing taxidermied specimens and conducting observations, they found that female birds were usually targeted for harassment by male counterparts when visiting feeders.
The females that donned male plumage remained largely undisturbed. Birds accessed the feeders more often and were harassed less frequently—both by male counterparts of their own kind and by different species of hummingbirds.
We asked the experts— Do hummingbirds remain monogamous? ?
Where Can You Find White-Necked Jacobin Hummingbirds?
If you want to see this distinctive feature of the hummingbird up close, you'll need to take a journey. White-necked jacobins do not reside within the United States; their habitat spans from southern Mexico, across Central America, and into northern South America.
Discover more intriguing information about hummingbird anatomy .
Sources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, " These Female Hummingbirds Disguise Themselves as Males “
- eBird, “ White-Necked Jacobin “
- University of Washington, “ Dressed in Color: Research Led by University of Washington Reveals Female Hummingbirds Adopt Male Plumage to Avoid Aggression “