Two species of giant hummingbirds inhabit the Andes, rather than just one as previously assumed, a new study has revealed
The birds are distinguished by only tiny differences in their bodies – but their lifestyles could hardly be less alike
Humanity’s poor understanding of South American wildlife was revealed recently with the announcement of a new species of giant anaconda, the largest and heaviest snake in the world.
That discovery revealed substantial genetic differences between green anacondas from different parts of the Amazon,
It’s easier to understand how a bird weighing 17-31 grams (0.6-1.1 ounces) could fly under our radar for so long than a 6-meter snake.
“These are amazing birds,” lead study author Cornell University’s Dr Jessie Williamson said in a statement.
The researchers discovered that northern giant hummingbirds live in the high Andes throughout the year, but a southern population breeds at the coast, spending their winters high in the mountains.