Tiny hummingbird chick mimics poisonous caterpillar to deter predators
In a Panama rainforest, a white-necked jacobin hummingbird chick about one inch long was observed flicking and twisting to mimic a poisonous caterpillar, scaring away wasps and other predators. Scientists say this may be the first clear record of caterpillar-like mimicry in a hummingbird, a potential Batesian strategy to boost nest survival in predator-rich tropical forests; further experiments with artificial chicks are planned to test which colors or movements elicit attacks.
