Watch the courtship display of the male Anna's hummingbird and the hen's use of food to coax fledglings to fly
Watch the courtship display of the male Anna's hummingbird and the hen's use of food to coax fledglings to fly
Learn about the courtship behaviour of the male Anna's hummingbird (Calypte annae), which is marked by an extraordinary display of soaring and diving. After mating, the female gathers materials to build a nest and lays eggs. Once the chicks have hatched, the female feeds them predigested food, which she eventually uses to lure them into flying.
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Transcript
NARRATOR: Hummingbirds are found throughout North and South America. This is a female bird of the species Calypte anna from the Pacific coast of California. It is also known as Anna's hummingbird.
The nesting season for Calypte anna begins in December and lasts through August. The courtship is marked by extraordinary displays by the male, who swoops, dashes, and soars high until he is almost out of sight, then dives back down at a speed that may reach 60 miles an hour.
After mating, the female begins building her nest with greater care than many birds. In a single day she makes more than 150 trips for materials. Twigs and grass, feathers and spiderwebs, and pieces of lichen are skillfully woven together and shaped into place. Then she lines the nest with the softest material available. The weeklong task of fitting, weaving, and lining the nest requires hours of patient effort.
The female hummingbird usually lays two eggs in a single nesting. The incessant need for food forces her to frequently leave the eggs exposed but only for short periods of time. Incubation usually lasts about 12 to 20 days.
When the chicks are hatched, they require constant feedings of predigested food. The hen devotes herself to feeding and keeping them warm for about two weeks. By then the chicks begin to outgrow the nest and can be left alone during the night.
Seventeen days after hatching, the chicks' backs are covered with iridescent feathers. They begin to exercise their wings and practice flying. To get the fledglings to fly, the hen feeds them but leaves them still hungry. As the fledglings finally leave the nest, she flies above them, tempting them higher with bits of food.
The nesting season for Calypte anna begins in December and lasts through August. The courtship is marked by extraordinary displays by the male, who swoops, dashes, and soars high until he is almost out of sight, then dives back down at a speed that may reach 60 miles an hour.
After mating, the female begins building her nest with greater care than many birds. In a single day she makes more than 150 trips for materials. Twigs and grass, feathers and spiderwebs, and pieces of lichen are skillfully woven together and shaped into place. Then she lines the nest with the softest material available. The weeklong task of fitting, weaving, and lining the nest requires hours of patient effort.
The female hummingbird usually lays two eggs in a single nesting. The incessant need for food forces her to frequently leave the eggs exposed but only for short periods of time. Incubation usually lasts about 12 to 20 days.
When the chicks are hatched, they require constant feedings of predigested food. The hen devotes herself to feeding and keeping them warm for about two weeks. By then the chicks begin to outgrow the nest and can be left alone during the night.
Seventeen days after hatching, the chicks' backs are covered with iridescent feathers. They begin to exercise their wings and practice flying. To get the fledglings to fly, the hen feeds them but leaves them still hungry. As the fledglings finally leave the nest, she flies above them, tempting them higher with bits of food.