Hummingbird Mystery Cut Short: Scientist Loses Funding
In the lush rainforests of Panama, a groundbreaking study on hummingbird biology came to an abrupt halt—not because the science failed, but because the funding vanished.
Jay Falk, a postdoctoral researcher affiliated with the University of Colorado and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, was investigating a puzzling natural phenomenon: why do some female white-necked jacobin hummingbirds look exactly like males?
The Hummingbird Enigma
Male white-necked jacobins are striking: iridescent blue heads, snow-white bellies, and dramatic white tails they fan out during displays. Females, by contrast, typically have mottled gray throats and dark tails. But roughly 20% of females mimic the males almost perfectly.
“Why, if you’re a female, would you want to look like a male?” Falk asked in a recent interview. His research pointed to a clever survival strategy: by resembling males, these females avoid aggression from territorial hummingbirds and gain better access to nectar-rich flowers.
A Single Gene, A Big Discovery
What made Falk’s work especially compelling was the genetic simplicity behind the mimicry. Most physical traits in animals arise from complex interactions among dozens—or even hundreds—of genes. But Falk’s team identified a single gene likely responsible for this dramatic visual switch.
Even more surprising? The gene regulates thyroid hormone production—a system not previously linked to feather coloration. “We didn’t think that thyroid hormone could affect such a big change,” Falk noted.
Funding Termination Sparks Concern
On April 25, 2025, Falk received an unexpected email: his National Science Foundation (NSF) postdoctoral fellowship had been terminated with no detailed explanation.
“I don’t know why my fellowship was terminated,” he said. “I suspect that it has something to do with studying a species that doesn’t fit the binary.”
The comment references growing concerns in the scientific community about political interference in research—particularly studies that challenge traditional biological binaries or explore gender and identity in nature.
Broader Implications for Science
Falk’s work wasn’t just about birds. It addressed a foundational question in biology: How do genes give rise to the vast diversity of forms we see in nature? Understanding this process has implications for evolutionary biology, developmental genetics, and even human health.
“It’s the same question as how our genes affect our health,” Falk explained. His next step—linking thyroid hormone changes directly to feather development—will now remain unanswered, at least for the foreseeable future.
Scientific Community Reacts
Colleagues describe Falk’s project as “elegant” and “rarely seen in modern ornithology.” The sudden defunding has raised alarms among researchers who fear a chilling effect on curiosity-driven science.
“When we cut off studies like this, we’re not just losing data—we’re losing wonder,” said one anonymous peer reviewer familiar with the project.
What’s Next for Falk?
Currently in “a weird limbo state,” Falk is weighing his options. Academic positions are scarce, and alternative funding sources are competitive. “All the writing on the wall says there’s not really a future here,” he admitted.
Still, he hopes public attention might revive interest—and support—for his hummingbird mystery.
