Hummingbirds - A Boundary Pushing Natural History

Hummingbirds have evolved to push the boundaries of vertebrate physiological performance. Although these adaptations have proven to be beneficial to hummingbirds in a wide variety of ways, adaptations are also associated with trade-offs that influence how the birds function and interact with their environment. This talk will focus on hummingbird natural history along with the unique anatomy, physiology, and behavior that distinguish hummingbirds from other vertebrate and avian taxa.

Jennie Rinehimer, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Biology at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Jennie earned her BS in Biology from Juniata College and a PhD in Biology from Indiana State University where she worked with Steve Lima on avian antipredator behavior in foraging birds. Now in her 11th year at Washington College, her research focus has expanded to also include studies on breeding birds, including how parental age and experience affects reproductive success. Her study species have included mourning doves, wintering mixed-species sparrow flocks, field sparrows, white-collared manakins, and ruby-throated hummingbirds.