The Secret of Hummingbird Colors

Quick Answer

• Color types: Structural and pigment-based.
• Common colors: Green, white, and gray, with red, pink, purple, blue, or copper-orange throats and crowns.
• Color changes: Iridescence makes feathers appear to change color as the bird turns and light hits at different angles.
• Females: Usually duller than adult males, with green backs, pale underparts, and no large, bright throat patch.

Hummingbird colors go far beyond green. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird has a jewel-red throat, an Anna’s Hummingbird flashes a rose-pink crown, and a Rufous Hummingbird wears rusty-orange plumage. Even more intriguing, these colorful hummingbirds can seem to change color.

What color are hummingbirds, and why do hummingbirds change colors? Here’s a closer look.

Part 1. What Colors Are Hummingbirds?

A hummingbird’s back, belly, and head often have different colors. The bright patch of throat feathers is called a gorget.

1. Green

Green is a common hummingbird color, especially on the back and crown.

The Emerald-chinned Hummingbird (Abeillia abeillei) has a metallic bronze-green back. Adult males have a bright emerald-green chin and upper throat.

2. Blue

Blue often appears on a hummingbird’s throat.

The blue throat of an adult male Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) contrasts with its greenish breast and belly, especially when seen from the front. Its red bill, tipped with black, stands out against the blue-green feathers.

Adult male Purple-throated Mountain-gems (Lampornis calolaemus) also show a blue sheen, mainly on their blue-green crowns.

3. Red and Pink

Red and pink hummingbird colors often appear on the throat and crown.

The ruby-red gorget of an adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) stands out against its green back and pale breast and belly.

Adult male Anna’s Hummingbirds (Calypte anna) have rose-pink crowns and throats that shine brightly in the right light. Females sometimes have a few pink throat feathers, but not the males’ large, vivid patches across the head and throat.

4. Purple

An adult male Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae) has an iridescent purple crown and throat. Its throat feathers extend out to each side like a little flared mustache.

An adult male Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) has a mostly black throat with a purple band along the lower edge, visible when the light catches it.

5. Orange and Rusty Brown

The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a standout among warm-colored hummingbirds. Adult males usually have rusty-orange backs and sides, a bright reddish-orange gorget, and a white breast.

Females have green upperparts with rusty sides and tails. Some also have a few orange feathers on the throat.

6. White, Gray, and Black

The White-tailed Emerald (Microchera chionura) has distinctive white feathers. Adult males are mostly shimmering emerald green, with a sharply contrasting white lower belly and outer tail feathers.

In females, the white extends from the belly to the throat, contrasting with the green upperparts. The white outer tail feathers are especially noticeable when they spread their tails.

Part 2. What Gives Hummingbirds Their Colors?

1. Pigment-Based Colors

Pigment-based colors come from chemical pigments in feathers. These pigments absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect the rest, producing the colors we see. Shawkey and D’Alba describe this selective absorption in their 2017 review of how animals produce surface colors.

Pigment-based hummingbird colors mainly include:

• Black and dark brown: Melanin produces these colors in wing feathers, tail feathers, and some body feathers.
• Brown and rusty tones: Different forms of melanin also produce these shades, such as the orange-brown on a Rufous Hummingbird’s back and belly.
• Gray: This usually comes from a combination of small amounts of melanin and light scattering in the feathers.

2. Structural Colors

The shimmering colors of an iridescent hummingbird come from microscopic feather structures. These feathers contain tiny, flattened, bubble-like melanin granules arranged in regular thin layers. When light hits them, some wavelengths of reflected light become more prominent.

Think of them as tiny layers of reflectors. As light strikes from different directions, the color and brightness reaching your eyes change.

3. Why Do Hummingbirds Seem to Change Color?

The direction of the light, the bird’s posture, and your viewing position all affect hummingbird iridescence. An adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird seen from the side may have a dark red throat, or one that looks almost black. When it turns toward the light, that same gorget can suddenly glow bright red.

The change is in the reflected light you see. A hummingbird only has to turn its head for the same feathers to look different. To catch hummingbirds changing colors, watch as they glance around from a perch or lift their heads after feeding. The Pexels video also shows how iridescence shifts with the viewing angle.

Part 3. What Roles Do Hummingbird Colors Play?

1. Courtship Displays

Bright hummingbird colors help males attract mates. During courtship, they combine body movements with displays of their shimmering gorgets and crowns.

The rose-pink head and throat of an Anna’s Hummingbird and the flared purple throat feathers of a Costa’s Hummingbird make striking courtship ornaments. As males change their orientation, these feathers catch the light and make the display more eye-catching.

2. Territorial Displays

Color also plays a part in competition between birds of the same species.

The White-necked Jacobin offers an interesting example. Cornell research found that females with bright, male-like plumage received less harassment while feeding and could feed more often and for longer. For these females, colorful plumage also brings an advantage when getting food.

3. Camouflage and Survival

Sometimes, color helps a bird go unnoticed. The muted plumage of some female hummingbirds helps them blend into their surroundings, especially while incubating eggs. Without showy, bright feathers, they are easier to conceal.

Part 4. See Hummingbird Colors Up Close with Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro

1. A Nectar Cup for Close-Up Visits

The Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro comes with a nectar cup that gives visiting hummingbirds a reason to linger in front of the camera. As they lower their heads to drink and look up again, you can see their throat and back feathers from different angles. You don’t have to stay beside the feeder to save these brief visits for later.

Its 1.7 L seed hopper also attracts seed-eating birds when hummingbirds aren’t around, keeping your backyard busy with visitors year-round.

2. 4K HDR Detail with PDAF Autofocus

4K HDR video captures feather detail and the range of light and shadow, giving you a clearer view of shimmering throat feathers, crown colors, and the texture of the back.

PDAF autofocus adjusts as a hummingbird moves closer or farther away, helping keep the bird sharp. Compared with a single photo, close-up video is more likely to capture the moment hummingbird colors shift as the bird changes position.

3. Slow-Motion Replay

Hummingbirds turn, look up, and feed quickly, so a flash of color can be easy to miss. The Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro is currently the only bird feeder on the market that supports 1080p slow-motion recording at 120 fps. Slowing down these movements lets you see the angle at which the bird’s gorget begins to brighten.

Conclusion. Enjoy the Colors Beyond a Single Glance

Hummingbird colors aren’t one fixed answer. What you see changes with the light, angle, and viewing distance. A green back, a rose-pink crown, or a dark gorget suddenly lighting up can all appear in just a few seconds.

If you want to save these moments for a closer look, the Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro is the best choice. Let the 4K camera record each visit, then take your time watching the details you missed in person.

FAQ

Does the color of a hummingbird mean anything?

Yes. Hummingbird colors can help identify a bird’s species, sex, and age. An adult male’s bright gorget also helps attract mates and signal to rivals as it defends its feeding territory.

What Is Hummingbird Iridescence?

Hummingbird iridescence is the way feathers appear to change color or brightness with the light and viewing angle. It comes from microscopic feather structures. For example, a gorget may suddenly shift from dark to vivid as the bird turns its head.

Are All Hummingbirds Green?

No. Many hummingbirds have green backs, but adult male Rufous Hummingbirds are often largely rusty orange. A single bird can also have a green back, pale underparts, and a brightly colored gorget.

Do Hummingbird Colors Change as They Age?

Yes. As young hummingbirds grow and molt, they may gradually develop adult plumage. Young males, for example, can grow more noticeable patches of colorful throat feathers.