When the hummingbird seeks to attract a mate, he reveals a world of shiny colours hidden in his feathers.
Hummingbirds are tiny little birds that hover, drinking nectar from flowers to fuel up in energy. In a gorgeous video made by the BBC, sir David Attenborough’s soothing voice describes some of the most surprising elements of this small bird’s life.
Being so small in size makes the hummingbird’s life full of threats and dangers. One of those is getting noticed by bigger birds and predators. That’s why it’s to the hummingbird’s advantage to have a coloring that doesn’t let it stand out or draw attention to itself.
This, however, is not the case when the hummingbird is trying to win a mate! That’s when he needs to be impressive. And what is better to impress a lady than shiny, bright colors and a display of endurance and health?