If you live in North America and see a hummingbird you’re likely looking at the ruby-throated kind, which is the most common species of the tiny birds. They usually spend summers breeding in the Eastern states before heading south to winter in Central America. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are naturally very inquisitive and if you put up a feeder they will be drawn to it because their curiosity always seems to get the best of them.
The beautiful little birds are lightning quick and love to zip around, so it can be hard to get a good look at one. To gain a new perspective on just how brilliant and good looking the ruby-throat is, check out this amazing video of a male one up close.
As the bird moves his head back and forth the sunlight reflects off his neck and throat feathers, causing them to change colors. This iridescent plumage glitters and seems to magically shift through different jewel tones. It’s one of mother nature’s most colorful displays and absolutely mesmerizing to watch.
The feathers are not actually the color of any of the hues we are seeing. Instead, there are many evenly spaced tiny slits on the feathers which act in unison to create an illusion of different, and ever-changing, coloring. As the light hits the feathers it interacts with the slits and gets diffracted, and that separation causes new wavelengths, which our eyes see as the sudden color changes.
If you didn’t previously understand why people love and go out of their way to feed and attract hummingbirds, perhaps this video will show you why. Plus, the lively little birds are not only pretty to look at, they are also very friendly.
They easily become accustomed to being around people and won’t hesitate to feed at flowers or nectar feeders located close to windows and houses. Support your local ruby-throated hummingbirds today and set up your own feeder. Then you can watch them play and interact with each other as they zip around and magically change color. They can do all that and more, so what else could you ask for?
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