This is Bird Note.

In some bird species, males and females look pretty different.

For example, male northern cardinals are bright red, and females are mostly brown.

In some species, the differences between sexes even help them eat different foods.

In the group of hummingbird species called hermit hummingbirds, found in Central and South America,

females typically have curved bills, while males have straighter ones. This makes the

females better at drinking nectar from flowers with curved bases, while males visit flowers with

straight bases. This could help males and females avoid directly competing for the same flowers.

The Hispaniol and Woodpecker from Haiti and the Dominican Republic also divvies up food

resources based on bill size. In this species, males have the bigger bills. They spend more

time pecking at bark and probing deep tree holes.

Females usually picket insects and spiders on the surface of leaves and bark.

Both the females and males are capable of the same types of feeding. It's a difference in

emphasis and how they spend their time.

Adaptations like these help birds share space with each other.

Avoiding competition has benefits for the whole species.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.