These female hummingbirds evolved to look like males — apparently to evade aggression

Credit: Jillian Ditner

Juvenile white-necked jacobin hummingbirds have a bright blue-and-white plumage, which all males retain as adults. Most female white-necked jacobin hummingbirds develop a “muted” plumage as adults, but approximately 20% develop male-like plumage.

« These female hummingbirds evolved to look like males — apparently to evade aggression

Credit: Irene Mendez Cruz

A white-necked jacobin hummingbird with male-like plumage.

« These female hummingbirds evolved to look like males — apparently to evade aggression

Credit: Jillian Ditner

Illustrations of the muted plumage typical of most adult female white-necked jacobin hummingbirds, shown on the left, and the blue-and-white plumage of all males and approximately 20% of adult females, on the right.

« These female hummingbirds evolved to look like males — apparently to evade aggression

Credit: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

A white-necked jacobin hummingbird with male-like plumage.

« These female hummingbirds evolved to look like males — apparently to evade aggression

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