Hummingbirds Break Aggressive Norms: First Documented Communal Nesting in Ecuador

Hummingbirds, known for their tiny size and delicate flight, often seem frail. Yet, these diminutive creatures are among the most aggressive birds in the avian kingdom, territorial fighters willing to chase, divebomb, and engage in beak jousting to protect their resources or mates. Such fierce competitiveness makes Gustavo Cañas-Valle’s discovery all the more remarkable.

Cañas-Valle, an ornithologist and birding guide, stumbled upon a cave in Ecuador’s High Andes where he found a surprising sight: a group of hummingbirds nesting and roosting together. Initially, he thought the scene looked like an unusual “colony,” likening the birds to honeybees.

The Unusual Discovery

Cañas-Valle documented 23 adult birds and four chicks, all of the Chimborazo hillstar subspecies (Oreotrochilus chimborazo chimborazo). Hisfindings were published in the journal Ornithology in November, marking the first record of hummingbirds nesting and roosting in a communal setting. This is significant because it defies the known nature of hummingbirds, which are usually solitary birds.

The space he discovered was not merely a meeting point but a habitat where nesting and roosting occurred simultaneously. This dual use is uncommon among even the most social bird species.

Exploring the Factors

Juan Luis Bouzat, an evolutionary geneticist at Bowling Green State University and a co-author of the study, suggests that harsh environmental conditions may have initially driven the birds to cluster together. These creatures inhabit a remote area, over 12,000 feet above sea level, where finding food and shelter poses significant challenges.

“Either you aggregate or perish,” Bouzat emphasized, indicating the critical role environmental pressures play in shaping group behavior. However, new evidence suggests that the hummingbirds are actively choosing group living.

Investigating Further

Cañas-Valle explored the region and found five additional examples of communally nesting and roosting hummingbirds, pointing to a pattern. He and Bouzat also examined drainage pipes with conditions similar to the cave. Only 45% of these pipes were occupied, indicating that the birds are likely selecting group living over solitude.

The data revealed that 82% of the 74 nests were part of groups, a statistic that defies random chance. This supports the idea that the hummingbirds are evolving to thrive together in colonies.

Scientific Debate

While the findings are groundbreaking, the scientific community is split on their interpretation. Scott Robinson, an ornithologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History, expressed surprise at such a discovery. He, however, questioned whether mere proximity constitutes colonialism, as hummingbirds do not exhibit cooperative behaviors typical in true colonies.

Charles Brown, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Tulsa echoed similar sentiments. He points out that true colonies involve significant cooperation, such as joint foraging or predator detection, which is missing from the current observations.

Future Directions

Despite the debate, Cañas-Valle noted his observations of hummingbirds leaving and returning to the caves together, suggesting a cohesive social group. Both Bouzat and Cañas-Valle agree that more research is necessary to understand the underlying behavior.

They aim to conduct behavioral studies to clarify whether the hummingbirds are merely tolerating each other or actively cooperating. Additionally, they plan to explore other hummingbird species in similar mountain environments to see if this behavior is widespread.

“I’m sure there are other unknown caves in the mountains where hummingbirds live,” Cañas-Valle said. “I’m expecting to find other species for sure.”

The Conclusion: A Shift in Perception

The discovery challenges our understanding of hummingbird behavior, revealing a side of these seemingly solitary birds that is social and possibly communal. While the true nature of their interactions remains to be fully understood, this finding underscores the importance of continuous research in the natural world.

As Cañas-Valle continues his explorations, the world of ornithology holds many more secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Join the Discussion

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