youtor.org
Dazzling With Color Anna’s Hummingbird
#############################
Video Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=piPbG-YPl-g
A perching male transforms from drab to brilliant with a toss of his head. • More at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Fancy Males interactive feature: http://biology.allaboutbirds.org/all-... • What’s happening: At first glance the male Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) is solidly green. Then with a twist of his head he reveals a flash of shiny red brilliance. This color show is made possible by the way the feather microstructure reflects light differently as the viewing angle changes. During his spectacular aerial courtship displays, he advertises this red badge to female spectators by orienting toward the sun. This colorful element of surprise is key to his mating success. • Videographer: Larry Arbanas. This video is archived at the Cornell Lab’s Macaulay Library, ML466291.
#############################
