"The iridescent green hermit hummingbird is known for its elongated bill, which is fine-tuned for feasting on a particular tropical flower in the rainforests of Central and South America. But once mating season begins, its distinctive needle-pointed bill also becomes a weapon of war. According to new research published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, male green hermit hummingbirds use their billwhich is straighter and sharper than females'to joust in a sparring match that can sometimes end in death."
"We used to think that males and females had different bill curvature because they feed on different flowers, but now we see that the evolutionary purpose that shapes their beaks is also about fighting, says lead study author Alejandro Rico-Guevara, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Washington. Using three-dimensional modeling of the bills of museum specimens, the researchers showed that the males bill is 3 percent straighter and 69 percent more pointed than the females', and the former has a dagger-tipped end that can strike at competition with surprising ferocity, Rico-Guevara says."
Green hermit hummingbirds have elongated bills adapted for feeding on a particular tropical flower in Central and South American rainforests. During breeding season males gather in leks and sing to attract females. Male bills are straighter and more needle-pointed than female bills, forming a dagger-like tip capable of striking rivals. Three-dimensional modeling of museum specimens found males' bills are about 3 percent straighter and 69 percent more pointed than females'. Males use their bills to joust competitors in sparring matches that can sometimes end in death. Bill shape reflects both feeding specialization and sexual selection pressures.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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