Published in Ecology · View the paper (DOI)
In a groundbreaking study, researchers discovered that hummingbird chicks mimic the appearance and behavior of a poisonous caterpillar to deter predators. By shaking its head and twitching its body, the chick effectively signals to potential threats that it's toxic, allowing it to survive in the treacherous tropical environment.
Coverage from 2 institutions
- How a hummingbird chick acts like a caterpillar to survive University of Colorado at Boulder · Mar 17, 2025 · first to report
- Caterpillar-like baby hummingbird discovered in Panama Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute · Mar 24, 2025