Anna's Hummingbird: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Small but Mighty Flyers · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. A courting male climbs about 40 m, then dives past the female at an average 27 m/s, or 385 of his body lengths per second.
2. As the dive bottoms out, the male's tail feathers make a sound that some people call an "explosive squeak".
3. Caught in the rain, an Anna's hummingbird can shake its body 55 times a second to fling off water. In dry weather, it shakes off pollen and dust.
4. There is evidence that flying Anna's hummingbirds build up an electrostatic charge that makes pollen stick to their beaks and feathers.
5. Anna's hummingbirds stay in Seattle all year, enduring long spells of sub-freezing temperatures, snow and high winds.

The quiz

1. About how high does a male rise before his courtship dive?

• About 40 m (correct)
• About 4 m
• About 400 m
• About 10 m

The male climbs about 40 m before diving past the female.

2. What makes the 'explosive squeak' at the bottom of the dive?

• The male's song
• The wings
• The tail feathers (correct)
• The beak

The audible sound is produced by the male's tail feathers.

3. How many times per second can an Anna's hummingbird shake its body?

• 5 times
• 15 times
• 55 times (correct)
• 555 times

It can shake its body 55 times per second to shed rain or clear pollen and dirt.

4. What may make pollen stick to a flying Anna's hummingbird?

• Sticky sap
• An electrostatic charge (correct)
• Nectar on its feathers
• Spider silk

Flying birds seem to build up an electrostatic charge that makes pollen stick to their beaks and feathers.

5. Where do Anna's hummingbirds stay all year despite snow and sub-freezing spells?

• Phoenix
• Seattle (correct)
• Mexico City
• Denver

They stay in Seattle year-round, enduring snow, high winds and sub-freezing temperatures.

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