Rehkämper G, Schuchmann K L, Schleicher A, Zilles K
Anatomisches Institut, Universität Köln, FRG.
Brain Behav Evol. 1991;37(2):85-91. doi: 10.1159/000114349.
The brain mass in 23 hummingbird species was compared to that in galliform birds taking body mass into consideration. Hummingbird brain masses were determined by endocranial volumes, and their body masses were calculated from skeletal measurements. Galliform data were taken from a recent publication. Hummingbirds have brains that are approximately 2.5 times larger than those of galliform birds. Such encephalization may be due to (1) an enlargement of the telencephalon, or (2) an enlargement of functionally well-defined extratelencephalic brain parts. Based on the extremely specialized feeding behavior of the nectarivorous hummingbirds and the neurological demands associated with sucking nectar during hovering, the second hypothesis is better supported, but further studies are needed.
在考虑体重的情况下，对23种蜂鸟的脑质量与鸡形目鸟类的脑质量进行了比较。蜂鸟的脑质量通过颅内容积确定，其体重根据骨骼测量计算得出。鸡形目鸟类的数据来自最近的一篇出版物。蜂鸟的大脑比鸡形目鸟类的大脑大约大2.5倍。这种脑化现象可能是由于：（1）端脑增大，或者（2）功能明确的脑外脑区增大。基于食蜜蜂鸟极其特殊的取食行为以及与悬停吸食花蜜相关的神经学需求，第二种假设得到了更好的支持，但仍需要进一步研究。
