In a remarkable discovery, ornithologist Gustavo Cañas-Valle has found hummingbirds living in a hive-like colony in a remote mountain cave in Ecuador. This is the first documented example of hummingbirds that nested and roosted communally.
The rare finding was made in a cave near the Chimborazo volcano, where harsh environmental conditions forced the birds to aggregate for survival. The researchers observed 23 adult birds and four chicks of the Oreotrochilus chimborazo chimborazo subspecies, commonly known as the Chimborazo hillstar.
However, what’s surprising is that the birds didn’t just tolerate each other; they actively chose group living over nesting alone. Computer simulations suggest that only 45% of concrete drainage pipes in the area had nests, but researchers found significantly more nests in groups than expected by chance.
The discovery raises questions about the role environmental factors play in driving group living and promoting social traits. While some experts believe this behavior could be an adaptation to their environment, others argue that it may not qualify as true colonial behavior.
To confirm whether the hummingbirds are actively cooperating or just tolerating each other, further research is needed. Cañas-Valle hopes to conduct behavioral studies and surveys for other hummingbird species in similar environments to determine if they’re also engaging in group living.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/science/hummingbirds-living-in-a-hive-found-for-the-first-time.html