Small Surprise in the Apple Tree

Featured animal:  Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna)

 Photo credit: None

Location:  California, USA

The most common hummingbird in California is Anna’s hummingbird.  These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue. They also consume small insects and other arthropods caught in flight or gleaned from vegetation. While collecting nectar, the Anna’s hummingbird assists in plant pollination. They are frequently seen in backyards and parks, and commonly found at feeders and flowering plants. The female bird builds a nest in a shrub or tree, in vines, or attached to wires or other artificial substrates. The nest materials are bound together with spider silk. Surprisingly, the nests are often within human reach but go unnoticed by people walking around because of their small size, and usually are well hidden by leaves.  The female raises the young without the assistance of the male.