June 02, 2024

Female Anna's hummingbird, Canada

Small bird, big buzz!. Anna's hummingbird

Meet the tiny, feathered acrobat that flitters in the skies. Anna's hummingbird was named after a French courtier, Anna de Belle Massena, Duchess of Rivoli. We can enjoy the year-round presence of these birds in Canada since they can withstand cooler climates and are able to slow down their metabolism, a state known as torpor. Anna's hummingbirds, weighing less than a loonie, have a wingspan of 12 centimetres. They can beat their wings over 40-50 times per second, enabling them to hover and even fly backwards with ease.

During their courtship, the males exhibit a remarkable performance. They embark on dives, making squeaky sounds to impress their mates. They fly skyward up to 40 metres before plummeting at a breakneck speed of roughly 3 kilometres per hour, emitting a sonic 'whoosh' with their tail feathers. During breeding season, the female builds a round nest of 3-5 centimetres in diameter, where she raises her young alone. So, the next time you're outside, keep an eye—and ear—out for Anna's hummingbird.