More guests arrived today! There are mini blinking red lights flashing through the sky around here. Only the male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird has the gorget jewels. Only the males are here. The females come later with the kids (about 10 days to 2 weeks). Now, the current info on the species reveals these are solitary birds who defend territory from other males and they do not help the females with the babies. However, my observations are different and in time as more knowledge is accumulated about these tiny birds, it will show that they are very social birds (especially) during the travel times (migration). I would go out on a limb and say there is more bonding between the males of this species than with the females! They travel together, eat together and sleep together. They do fight and guard their 'own' feeders, but I have never seen a dead one from all the battles. I have seen a fierce battle between 2 males and then watch them land side by side on a branch and hangout together. I think alot of the aggressive behavior is just play, because they buzz me too. Time will tell. It is great to see them coming in year after year. I know why Mom loved them so. I also know as I am happy now, I will cry in October when they fly away again. That is just how it is. We must all fly away one day. Enjoy these red light boys!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorget_(bird)
Gorget (bird)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A gorget is a patch of colored feathers found on the throat or upper breast of some species of birds.[1] It is a feature found on many male hummingbirds, particularly those found in North America; these gorgets are typically iridescent.[2] Other species, such as the Purple-throated Fruitcrow[3] and Chukar Partridge, also show the feature.[4] The term is derived from the gorgetused in military armor to protect the throat.
Feather wear and exposure to the sun can produce changes in the apparent color of iridescent gorget feathers. For example, fresh gorget feathers on the Anna's Hummingbird are rose red; these fade to a coppery bronzy color with age.[5]
Functions
A number of social functions have been suggested for the gorget. It may aid in mate attraction or in resource defense. It may signal social status or allow species to identify conspecifics.[6] Among hummingbirds, gorgets are typically found only on males. In the rare instances where they are found on females, they appear to serve primarily for signaling threats.[7]
Young hummingbirds, which need to intrude on adult territories to feed once they have fledged, all lack gorgets. This may help to make them less visible or less threatening to adult birds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridescent
Iridescence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Description
Further information: Structural coloration
Iridescence is an optical phenomenon of surfaces in which hue changes in correspondence with the angle from which a surface is viewed.
Iridescence is often caused by multiple reflections from two or more semi-transparent surfaces in which phase shift and interference of the reflections modulates the incidental light (by amplifying or attenuating some frequencies more than others).[1] This process, termed thin-film interference, is the functional analog of selective wavelength attenuation as seen with the Fabry–Pérot interferometer.
In biological (and biomimetic) uses, colours are traditionally produced with pigments, so colours produced other than by pigment are called structural coloration. The use of often multilayered microstructures usually also produces iridescence, as quite elaborate arrangements are needed to avoid reflecting different colours in different directions. Structural coloration has been understood in general terms since Robert Hooke's 1665 book Micrographia.[2][3]
Chordates
The feathers of some birds, such as kingfishers, hummingbirds, parrots, crows, ravens, starlings, grackles, ducks, and peacocks are often iridescent. The tapetum lucidum, present in the eyes of many vertebrates, may also be iridescent.
o+o
