Anna’s Hummingbird

01 Aug Anna’s Hummingbird

One of the first observations I made after moving to the West Coast was the abundance of Eucalyptus trees in the area.  These sweet-smelling trees often tower above 100ft. and are truly something to behold.  They’re just…cool.  Their bark peels off in a peculiar manner, and the fruit falls to the ground in alien-colored acorns.  Of course, Eucalyptus trees are not endemic to California–they were introduced sometime in the early 1800’s–but now they are part of the landscape.

Exotic trees like the Eucalyptus have become increasingly abundant on the West Coast, greatly expanding the territory of the Anna’s Hummingbird.  While previously (in the 1900’s) the species would be found only in Southern California and Northern Baja California, they now live as far north as Canada.  These little birds are all over the place!

Most people consider hummingbird sightings a special occurrence–and rightfully so!  Due to their small size, quick flight, and uniqueness to the Aves (Bird) class, they often go unseen but by chance.  Hummingbirds are incredible creatures.  Specimens like this Anna’s Hummingbird often weigh less than a nickel!  The plumage of even the most humble hummingbird (like the Anna’s) is stunning, showing off iridescent shades of green, yellow, and purple. And to top all of this, hummingbirds are endemic only to the New World!–you won’t find them living wild in Europe.   These are some cool birds.

Lately they’ve been hanging around the trees in my neighborhood, whizzing from bush to bush and calling from the trees even early in the morning.  I’ve never seen so many hummingbirds in my life!  It’s certainly one of the perks of living in California.