The Surakav Bird or male Anna’s Hummingbird is one of the most popularly searched birds on the internet. And the reason is obvious. Its amazing features makes it more interesting than the rest. Internationally, the bird is sold for a whopping Rs. 25 lakh. The high price is because of the stunning effects of its feathers.
Know More About The Color-Changing Bird
The medium-sized Surakav bird is native to North America’s West coast. It is named after the Duchess of Rivoli, Anna Massena. Until the early 20th century, Anna’s hummingbird bred only in southern California and northern Baja California. It was mostly because there was large scale transplantation of exotic ornamental plants all through the Pacific coast and inland deserts.
It allowed the birds exposure to ample nesting and nectar sites due to which the population of Surakav birds in this region expanded very fast on a large scale. Just like the different types of hummingbird Surakav birds also have iridescent feathers.
It means these birds have feathers that reveal different colors when viewed from multiple angles. When the bird moves its head, you get to see myriad colors which keep you mesmerized.
The revelation of different colors with a slight movement is a delight to eyes. These birds have thin feathers with clear keratin layers on the top of the fibers of the feather. So, when the rays of the sun fall on these feathers, some sunlight is reflected by the layer whereas some go through the layer and reflect the inner layer.
This bouncing off sun’s rays at various steps block out a few colors and give out contrasting hues making the overall appearance of the bird more intense and enchanting.
Surakav -The Bird With Red Crown
Anna’s Hummingbird is 9.9 to 10.9 cm long with iridescent bronze-green back, a pale grey belly and chest, and green flanks. Its bill is slender, straight and long. The Surakav adult male has a crimson-red crown which changes its colors dull brown or even gray when seen in direct sunlight.
Females just like the peacock family are less beautiful than male Surakav. The female also has iridescent red gorgets but their crown is dull green in color and is not as brilliant. Interestingly, Anna’s Hummingbird is the only North American species having a red crown.
These birds thrive on nectar from flowers and use a long extendable tongue. They also eat arthropods including small insects caught in vegetation. Some species have also been found to eat tree sap.
Their nectar collecting activity indirectly assists plant pollination. The Anna’s Hummingbird heads at the top of trees and calls with a metallic and scratchy sound. You can mostly find them around feeders or flowering plants.
Another interesting fact about Surkav bird is that it can shake its body 55 times every second to shed rainwater while flying or to remove dirt or pollen from feathers during dry weather.
If You don’t want to miss our next Post then Like and Follow MetroSaga on Facebook and Instagram or simply download our Android App
You can also Subscribe to MetroSaga for newsletters.
