Some species of hummingbird are adapting to urban life by undergoing evolutionary changes in their anatomy, influenced by the proliferation of artificial drinking fountains. According to some biologists, this might show that these birds are on their way to becoming commensal with humans—benefiting from living closely alongside them—like pigeons have in urban areas.
A recent study found that the size and shape of the beaks of Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna), a species native to North America, have changed. A hummingbird’s beak is naturally long and slender in order to access nectar located in deep inside flowers. However, in recent decades, the beaks of urban