Coevolution Between Hummingbirds and Flowers

Both hummingbirds and flowers have evolved together in a process of co-adaptation.

Hummingbirds are small birds, they are one of the largest bird families found in Colombia. Historically it is known that hummingbirds invaded South America millions of years ago (McGuire et al., 2014) Hummingbirds belong to the TROCHILIDAE family, are species currently associated with the Neotropic (Ayerbe-F 2015), their greater diversity results from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.

These are some species of great importance for the fulfillment of ecological functions, while they take their food from the corolla of the flowers, they contribute to pollination. It is important to highlight the preference of some species for certain type of flowers, according to the shape of the corollas of the flowers and their peaks (Ayerbe-F, 2018). These birds evolved to improve their flight and they can fly both, forward and backward, and due to their high energy consumption, it is necessary for them to look for food throughout the day.

Most of these species can be found in our protected areas of the National Natural Parks System of Colombia; In this note we can show some of them and their attraction for certain types of flowers to which they adapt due to the shape of their beaks. Although hummingbirds with large beaks can sip nectar from more species of flowers, this sample just represents a few of them.

• Colibri delphinae, relatively medium size hummingbird, 10.5 cm. approximately and the beak i 18 mm long, it is distributed between 600 and 2600 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Las Hermosas National Park National Park.

• Colibri coruscans, relatively large hummingbird, 13 cm. approximately with a beak 25 mm long, it is distributed between 1200 and 3600 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Nevado del Huila National Park National Park.

• Heliangelus exortis, relatively medium size hummingbird, 9.5 cm. approximately with a beak 15 mm long, it is distributed between 2000 and 3200 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Nevado del Huila National Natural Park.

• Adelomyia melanogenys, relatively small hummingbird, 8.8 cm. approximately and with beak 13 mm long, it is distributed between 1000 and 3000 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Selva Natural National Park of Florence.

• Aglaiocercus coelestis, relatively large hummingbird with a very long tail, ♂18 cm and ♀10 cm. approximately with a beak 13 mm long, it is distributed between 900 and 2100 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Las Orquídeas National Natural Park.

• Oxypogon stubelii, relatively medium size hummingbird, 11 cm. approximately and with a beak 10 mm long, it is distributed between 3200 and 4600 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Los Nevados National Natural Park.

• Metallura tyrianthina, relatively small hummingbird, 8 cm. approximately and with a beak 10 mm long, it is distributed between 2100 and 3500 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Cueva de los Guacharos National Park.

• Eriocnemis dress, relatively small hummingbird, 8.7 cm. approximately and with a beak 18 mm long, it is distributed between 2200 and 3800 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Juana Cascabel Volcanic Complex Natural National Park.

1. Coeligena torquata, relatively large hummingbird, 11.4 cm. approximately and with a beak 33 mm long, it is distributed between 2000 and 3400 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Puracé National Natural Park.

1. Lafresnaya Lafresnayi, relatively medium hummingbird, 10 cm. approximately and with a beak 25 mm long, it is distributed between 2000 and 3500 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Los Nevados National Natural Park.

1. Ensifera ensifera, relatively large hummingbird, 13.5 cm. approximately and with a beak 100.2 119 and 119 cm long ♀, it is distributed between 2400 and 3500 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Doña Juana Cascabel National Natural Park.

1. Boissonneaua Jardini, relatively large hummingbird, 10.9 cm. approximately and with a beak 18 mm long, it is distributed between 700 and 2200 m.a.s.l. It is possible to see it in the Tatamá National Natural Park.

Bibliography

Ayerbe-Quiñones, F (2015). Colibríes de Colombia. Serie: Avifauna Colombiana. Wildlife Conservation Society. 352 pp.

Ayerbe-Quiñones, F (2018). Guía ilustrada de la Avifauna Colombiana. Wildlife Conservation Society. 212 pp.

McGuire, J. A., Witt, C. C., Remsen, J. V., Corl, A., Rabosky, D. L., Altshuler, D. L., & Dudley, R. (2014). Molecular phylogenetics and the diversification of hummingbirds. Current Biology, 24(8), 910–916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.016