Female hummingbirds may sport flashy feathers to avoid being harassed

It’s not all about sex. Pretty plumage can evolve to give other social advantages, scientists say

a white-necked jacobin hummingbird

White-necked jacobin hummingbirds can be aggressive. But some females seem to have found a way to avoid some attacks: by donning the blue coloring that’s more typical of males.

Gerald Corsi/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Some female hummingbirds don flashy feathers to avoid being bothered by other hummingbirds, a new study suggests.