Hummingbirds are known for their vibrant, iridescent colors that shimmer and change in the light. While many hummingbird species display brilliant reds, greens, oranges and purples, blue is a rare find in the hummingbird world.
Do any hummingbird species have blue feathers?
There are over 300 different hummingbird species, but only a handful have blue feathers. The blue-throated hummingbird, found in the mountains of Mexico and Central America, is one of the few truly blue hummingbirds. The males have bright, scintillating turquoise throats. Other hummingbirds with hints of blue in their plumage include:
- Blue-tailed hummingbird – has green body with blue outer tail feathers
- Lucifer hummingbird – purple/green body with blue tips on tail feathers
- White-eared hummingbird – emerald green body with blue spot behind the eye
- Berylline hummingbird – green body with bluish crown and rump
So while blue is uncommon, a few hummingbird species do naturally display blue hues alongside other colors in their plumage.
Why is blue uncommon in hummingbirds?
There are a few reasons why true blue feathers are rare in hummingbirds:
- Structural coloration – The iridescent hummingbird colors are created by light refracting off the specialized feather structure. Green and purple iridescence is common, blue is structurally harder to produce.
- Evolutionary adaptation – The reds, oranges, and greens displayed by many hummingbird species serve important functions like attracting mates and establishing territory. Blue may not have provided an evolutionary advantage.
- Diet – Pigments that produce blue colors in feathers are derived from certain carotenoids found in food. Hummingbird diet may lack sufficient sources of these blue-generating carotenoids.
So both structural and evolutionary factors seem to make blue an unusual color for these tiny, shimmering birds.
Are any hummingbirds naturally blue?
While beautiful blues can be seen fleetingly on certain hummingbird species, there are no truly all-blue hummingbirds. Even the blue-throated hummingbird has a mostly green body. Pure blue coloration does not occur naturally in any hummingbird species.
Blue throat
The blue-throated hummingbird is one of the only species with a substantial blue patch. The males have throats that appear bright turquoise-blue in the light. From certain angles, the throat may even appear purple.
Blue tail feathers
A few species like the blue-tailed hummingbird and the Lucifer hummingbird have outer tail feathers tipped with blue. In the right light, the tail may briefly flash blue.
Blue spot behind the eye
The white-eared hummingbird has a small vibrant blue spot behind each eye, contrasting sharply with its overall emerald green plumage.
Do any hummingbirds look blue?
While pure blue is rare in nature, some hummingbirds can appear more blue under certain lighting conditions:
- Iridescence – The specialized feathers of hummingbirds contain nanoscale structures that refract light. When illuminated at specific angles, green or purple iridescence can momentarily flash blue.
- Light scattering – In bright sunlight, the blue component of light is preferentially scattered. This can lend a bluish cast over green or purple iridescent feathers.
- Optical illusion – Adjacent blue flowers or blue background foliage may optically mix with a hummingbird’s true colors, making them appear more blue than they really are.
So while they may occasionally appear blue, this is primarily a trick of the light or their surroundings. There are no naturally all-blue hummingbirds.
Are there albino hummingbirds?
True albino hummingbirds with white plumage are extremely rare. But partial leucism does occasionally occur, resulting in hummingbirds with patches or highlights of white feathers:
- White-bellied woodstar – Small white patch on belly
- White-booted racket-tail – White leg puffs
- Violet-crowned woodnymph – White streaks on head
There are also very rare reports of Hummingbirds with more extensive white plumage. However, complete albinism is exceptionally uncommon, as these birds would lack camouflage and struggle to survive in the wild.
Conclusion
While flashes of blue can be observed on a handful of hummingbird species, there are no truly all-blue hummingbirds found in nature. Pure blue coloration appears to be rare, potentially due to structural limitations, evolutionary pressures, and dietary pigments. But the breathtaking rainbow of reds, greens, oranges and violets displayed by these tiny dynamos more than make up for any lack of blue.
