Organism

Hummingbirds

TL;DR

Small birds cited in the chapter as an example of specialist-generalist tradeoffs that limit convergence.

Trochilidae

Bird

Small birds cited in the chapter as an example of specialist-generalist tradeoffs that limit convergence. Hummingbirds converged on long, thin beaks for nectar feeding, but this makes them poor seed-eaters. Finches that specialize on seeds cannot converge on hummingbird-like beaks without sacrificing seed-eating ability - tradeoffs create multiple fitness peaks.

Notable Traits of Hummingbirds

  • Specialized nectar-feeding beak
  • Hovering flight

Related Mechanisms for Hummingbirds