A Rufous hummingbird's gorget is orange.

A Ruby-throated hummingbird's gorget is red.

But if the light isn't just so, you'll only see black!

Photos (from top): James Down, Dean Briggins, Russ Thompson

What Scientists Think
When you look at an animal, you can usually tell easily what color it is. But hummingbirds can sometimes fool us! Sometimes a hummer's gorget (throat feathers) shimmers with color. But other times it looks dark.

For a long time, scientists didn't know what made the throat feathers of many male hummingbirds seem to change. But now they have a better idea, thanks to special microscopes that allow them to look closer.

Think Mirrors!
Well, it's not exactly like mirrors, but these special feathers have tiny plate-like structures. Light that hits them bounces back in just one direction. What you see depends on the angle that light hits the feathers and where you are in relation to the hummer. If no light is bounced back to you, the gorget will look black. But if you're lucky, you will see brilliant red, orange, or purple, depending on what kind of hummingbird you've spotted!

There's Always a Reason!
In nature, there's always a "why" behind what you see. Brilliant throat colors probably attract female hummers and, when puffed out, help warn competitors to stay away. What a wonderful natural adaptation!

Keep your eyes peeled for hummingbirds
in your schoolyard, backyard, and other spots. What colors do you spy?