Anna's Hummingbird

The pacific coast of north America is home to a very common and very beautiful Hummingbird. The Anna's Hummingbird. Perhaps their bright pink shimmer has caught your eye when you've been out on a walk. The emerald green feathers are also a key trait. A bit smaller than a golf ball, weighing as much as nickel, these birds can often be spotted calling out to other hummingbirds.

Iridescent reddish-pink feathers signify that this is a male. Also confirming this is flashy example is a male is the scratchy, metallic song. During mating season, the male Anna's hummingbird will fly over 100 feet high putting on an aerial display. They'll also orient themselves towards the sun to help flash their iridescence towards females. The flashy surprise is critical to him being selected.

When light hits the microstructure of the feather, the color reflects differently depending on the angle that the bird is being viewed at. "Gorget" is the term that identifies the the area with iridescent feathers.

Hummingbirds have possibly the most intensely iridescent feathers known on birds and the Anna's Hummingbird is no exception.

Credit: Hyland Nature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkUokgJx3Tw