The Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) is a medium-sized bird in the Trochilidae family of hummingbirds.
The Anna’s Hummingbird has iridescent bronze-green feathers on its back, with a pale-grey chest and belly, and green sides. The adult male has an iridescent crimson-red to reddish-pink crown. Its tail is dark and slightly forked. It has a long, thin, straight beak. The female is also iridescent, but not as brilliant as the male. She has a dull-green crown.
It grows to abouot 11 centimetres (4 inches) long, with a wingspan of about 12 centimetres (5 inches).
It is native to the western coastal regions of North America. It prefers open wooded areas and mountain meadows.
It feeds on nectar from flowers. It uses it long, extendable tongue to insert into flowers to sips the flowers’ juices. It also eats small insects.
The female builds a rounded nest in a shrub or tree, made from plant fibres, feathers, animal fur, and spider silk. She lays 2 eggs which hatch after 14-19 days. She raises her young withouth the male’s help. The juvenile has a dull-green crown and duller feathers until it matures. It can fly 18-23 days after hatching.
Location of photographs: Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
Photographer: Michael Catalano
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM