Scientists Discover a Significant Number of Female Florisuga mellivora Hummingbirds Displaying Bright Colors Similar to Males
Male (left) and female (right) Florisuga mellivora hummingbirds.
This discovery helps to prevent aggressive behavior directed at female hummingbirds by male counterparts during foraging.
“One of the remarkable moments in this research was when I realized that all the juvenile females displayed vibrant colors,” said Jay Falk, a bird researcher from the University of Washington.
In birds, males typically exhibit bright plumage while females have more subdued colors. This characteristic is known as sexual dimorphism.
“It is unusual to see a bird species where the juveniles resemble the males,” Falk noted.
As they mature, about 80% of female hummingbirds “change their appearance.” The remaining 20% retain their vibrant plumage, making it difficult for many males to distinguish them.
Falk and his colleagues’ research indicates that brightly colored females are less likely to become targets of aggression during foraging compared to other females.
“The bright plumage effectively reduces attacks,” Falk added.
