Hummingbird moths are night flying insects whose behavior and appearance are similar to those of hummingbirds Explain who these two organisms demonstrate convergent evolution?

Answer 1

Because one is a bird and one is a moth, they don't have a common ancestor (at least not for a VERY long time). However, they have evolved to eat the same food: nectar. Hummingbirds are chiefly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. This leaves the niche of feeding at flowers open at night. The hummingbird moth has developed adaptations to feed on nectar much like the hummingbird has: the ability to hover and collect nectar using a long proboscus. So if you imagine them on an evolutionary tree, they are coming from vastly different ancestral backgrounds. However, they have evolved very similar strategies for collecting their food. That's convergent evolution.

Answer 2

Hummingbird moths and hummingbirds have independently evolved similar traits, such as hovering in place while feeding on nectar, due to similar ecological niches and selective pressures. This is an example of convergent evolution, where unrelated species have developed analogous characteristics as a result of adapting to similar environments or lifestyles.