The abundant hummingbird feeders in California homes not only allowed some hummingbirds to expand their range, but also changed the shape of their beaks.
Native to Southern California, Anna’s hummingbirds expanded their range to the northern tip of the state over the last century. Their movement, following the adoption of feeders and planting of eucalyptus trees, it can supply nectar all year round, studyIt is published in Global Change Biology. The researchers are a power of attorney for the spread of feeders, drawn in an annual bird survey dating back to 1938, compared to census data, eucalyptus tree maps and hummingbird feeder advertisements published in local newspapers.
When researchers looked at Anna’s hummingbird museum specimens, they noticed dramatic changes in the shape of the beak in the middle of the century, changes unfolded in spaces of around ten generations. Science It has been reported. That was the first patent for the feeder. Submit 1947. Between the 1930s and 1950s, Anna’s hummingbird beak grew significantly.
The shift was widespread, but with the exception of the cooler parts of northern California, the beak actually shrunk. Researchers have shown that hummingbirds use their beaks to dissipate heat. This means that a small beak will allow the bird to save more heat.
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