Most beautiful small birds - Sykalo Eugen 2024

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Identification:

• Species name: Anna's Hummingbird
• Scientific name: Calypte anna
• Family: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
• Order: Apodiformes (Hummingbirds)
• Subclass: Neornithes (Modern birds)
• Class: Aves (Birds)

Description:

• Size: Tiny, about 10 cm (3.9 in) long with a wingspan of 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 in). One of the smallest North American birds.
• Body shape: Compact and streamlined, with long, narrow wings and a short tail.
• Plumage color:

Males (breeding season): Iridescent emerald green back and grayish-white underparts. Dazzling rosy-red crown and gorget (feathers on throat) that shimmers like a jewel.

Females: Less showy, with green back and white underparts. May have some iridescent feathers on throat.

• Beak: Long, slender, and black, perfectly adapted for probing flowers for nectar.
• Legs: Tiny and black.
• Tail: Short, forked, and often held at a rakish angle.

Behavior:

• Feeding: Feeds by hovering in front of flowers and using its long beak to extract nectar. Also catches small insects in mid-air.
• Reproduction: Male performs acrobatic courtship displays, diving and hovering with loud chirps. Lays 1-2 tiny white eggs in a cup-shaped nest built on a branch. Only females care for the young.
• Movement: Resident along the west coast of North America, with some local movement in winter.
• Communication: Males have a high-pitched, squeaky song and various chirps and calls. Females have a soft, high-pitched twitter.

Ecology:

• Habitat: Open woodlands, chaparral, gardens, and urban areas with abundant flowers.
• Diet: Primarily nectar from flowers, but also catches small insects.
• Hunting methods: Hovers in front of flowers to extract nectar with its long beak. Gleans insects from leaves and branches or catches them in mid-air.

Distribution: Found along the west coast of North America from southern British Columbia to Baja California. Also found in some interior valleys and mountains.

The Anna's Hummingbird, with its iridescent gorget and acrobatic flight, is a jewel of the Pacific Coast. But don't underestimate this feathered gem; beneath its beauty lies a scientific powerhouse and a champion of curiosities. Get ready to be amazed by these hummingbird highlights:

Aerial Acrobatic Champion: For its size, Anna's Hummingbird boasts the fastest aerial dive of any bird. Reaching speeds of up to 60 mph, they plummet into flowers, extracting nectar with their long, specialized tongues in a millisecond. Think of them as feathered fighter jets in a floral dogfight!

Metabolic Marvel: Hummingbirds like Anna's have the highest metabolic rate of any warm-blooded animal. Their tiny hearts beat up to 1,200 times per minute, and they can consume half their body weight in nectar every day. It's like running a marathon on a thimble of sugar water!

Memory Master: Despite their tiny brains, Anna's Hummingbirds have remarkably good spatial memory. They can remember the location of hundreds of flowers, ensuring they have reliable nectar sources throughout their territory. Talk about a mental map on a microscopic scale!

Courtship Casanova: Male Anna's Hummingbirds put on a dazzling show to attract mates. They perform aerial dives and pendulum swings, flashing their iridescent gorgets like tiny disco balls. These feathered Romeos know how to woo with a dazzling aerial ballet!

Hummingbird Highway Hijinks: During migration, Anna's Hummingbirds often hitch rides on larger birds, like hawks or owls. This "drafting" technique saves them precious energy during their long journeys, showcasing their clever resourcefulness. Imagine hitching a ride on a feathered airliner!

Unexpected Winter Warriors: Contrary to their tropical image, some Anna's Hummingbirds choose to stay put during winter. They rely on sugary sap from trees and even frozen flowers to survive, proving their resilience and adaptability to harsh conditions. They're the feathered Vikings of the hummingbird world!

Sparkling Socialites: Despite their territorial tendencies, Anna's Hummingbirds sometimes gather in loose, temporary flocks during non-breeding periods. They perch together, preen each other's feathers, and even share food sources, hinting at a hidden social side amongst these tiny titans.

Symbiotic Secrets: Anna's Hummingbirds play a crucial role in pollination, sipping nectar from flowers and inadvertently transferring pollen between them. This mutually beneficial relationship showcases the interconnectedness of nature, with tiny hummingbirds acting as feathered matchmakers for the plant world.