Anna's Hummingbird
- Anne Longman
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Updated: May 14
Week of 03.31.25
Anna's hummingbirds are flashy year-round residents of the Pacific coast. In winter, they are a jewel of color against the grey sky. In summer, they perch in flowering trees and whiz by unsuspecting pedestrians.
Weighing in at around .15 oz, the Anna's hummingbird is lighter than a nickel! This is because of their hollow bones and tight frame. Hummingbirds are built to be flying machines, and efficient ones at that. Hummingbirds can fly for nearly 20 hours without resting, and are the only type of bird that can fly backwards.
Like many types of bird, these hummingbirds are sexually dimorphous, meaning males and females look different despite being of the same species. Males sport bright pink heads and necks, while females have green/yellow coloration in the same areas. Both have iridescent feathers that catch the light and appear to turn bright. Below is a video from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that demonstrates this "magic trick"!
Although it may look like magic, the change in color on these birds comes from structures called melanosomes that reflect light. In hummingbirds, these structures are flat and filled with air bubbles. In other colorful birds, melanosomes take different shapes. The key to hummingbird coloration appears to be the layering of these flat structures to create complex light reflection. According to Christopher Clark, a hummingbird researcher, these structures are also reflecting back colors the human eye cannot perceive. Just imagine how stunning these feathers must look to birds!
You can find out more about hummingbird iridescence here.
Hummingbirds of all kinds are known for their high metabolisms and constant movement. They must be in continuous search of nectar to keep up with their energy demands. They use long beaks and tongues to sip sweet nectar from feeders and flowers. These birds will also snack on insects, when needed. With all that flying and eating, they must rest somehow! Hummingbirds do not sleep, but rather, go into a state call torpor. This is not sleep like you get, with cycles, but rather a "power down" mode. They stand still, lower their body temperature, and conserve energy. Sometimes, Anna's hummingbirds will hang upside down as they do this. Sounds relaxing!
Did you know? Hummingbirds cannot walk! Their short legs do not work like ours, allowing them to move laterally on branches but not forward.
Anna's hummingbirds are some of the easiest hummingbirds to attract to a feeder or garden. Try leaving out a sugar water mixture, or planting nectar-rich flowers such as Salvia. A sugar mixture can be made from 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, dissolved together and boiled for safety. After cooling, this mixture can be added to any hummingbird feeder and changed regularly to avoid bacteria growth. Hummingbirds will be by in no time!
If you aren't in the Pacific Northwest but crave a hummingbird experience, try keeping your eyes peeled for the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. Their seasonal range extends roughly from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean. They too can be attracted with sugar water and native plants.
Have a great week!
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Sources:
Art by Anne Longman
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