Male-like ornamentation in female hummingbirds results from social harassment rather than sexual selection

Jay J. Falk. Michael S. Webster, Dustin R. Rubenstein

Published: August 26, 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.07.043

Highlights

• Female white-necked jacobins are polymorphic—30% have male-like plumage
• All juveniles have male-like plumage, excluding sexual selection as an explanation
• Male-like females receive less con- and heterospecific social harassment
• Thus, male-like ornamentation in females can arise purely through non-sexual means