The White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) is a hummingbird found in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. (Credit: Kathy & sam, fotopedia.com)
A new study shows that hummingbirds continue to diversify and adapt to different ecological niches all across North America, South America and the Caribbean. Researchers used genetic studies to reconstruct the family tree of the smallest birds and have found that hummingbirds invaded South America 22 million years ago and diversified into 338 known species today.
Original research paper published in the journal Current Biology on April 3 2014.
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