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A hummingbird song that most birds can’t hear

The nimble flyer’s high-pitched tune might help it to distinguish others of its kind.
Black jacobin hummingbird perched on a branch

The black-jacobin hummingbird sometimes gathers by the dozens to feed on nectar-rich plants. Credit: Luiz Claudio Marigo/NPL

A tropical hummingbird sings a rapid, oscillating tune that resembles a cricket’s more than a bird’s — and is too high-pitched for other birds to hear.

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Nature 555, 289 (2018)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-02789-2

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