The throat of a hummingbird is called a gorget. The gorget is an area of iridescent feathers on the hummingbird’s throat that can appear black, blue, green, red, orange, or a mix of colors depending on the species. The coloration and pattern of the gorget differs between male and female hummingbirds within a species.
What is the purpose of a hummingbird’s gorget?
A hummingbird’s gorget serves multiple purposes:
Attracting mates
The vibrant, iridescent gorget helps attract mates. Female hummingbirds are visually stimulated by the striking colors of the male’s gorget when choosing a mate. The more vibrant and pronounced the male’s gorget, the more desirable he appears to females.
Species recognition
The unique gorget pattern of each species allows hummingbirds to recognize others of their own kind. This helps prevent interspecies breeding.
Communication
Male hummingbirds use their gorgets to signal aggression and establish dominance over other males. Females may also flash their gorgets briefly to communicate with males.
Temperature regulation
The bare skin and specialized feathers of the gorget allow for heat dissipation, which helps hummingbirds control their temperature as they fly and feed.
What colors can a hummingbird’s gorget be?
Hummingbird gorgets come in a spectacular range of colors, including:
| Color | Example Species |
|---|---|
| Red | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
| Orange | Rufous Hummingbird |
| Yellow | Calliope Hummingbird |
| Green | Anna’s Hummingbird |
| Blue | Blue-throated Hummingbird |
| Purple | Costa’s Hummingbird |
| Black | Violet-throated Hummingbird |
The color depends on the angle light hits the feather surface and how the feather absorbs and reflects specific wavelengths. Iridescent gorget feathers contain tiny, sausage-shaped air bubbles called melanosomes that interfere with light waves to produce shimmering optical effects.
Do male and female hummingbirds have different gorget colors?
Yes, male hummingbirds tend to have much brighter, more colorful gorgets than females. This prominent plumage helps males stand out and attract mates.
Females have less pronounced gorgets that blend in with the rest of their body feathers for camouflage while incubating eggs. A subtler gorget also allows females to avoid unwanted male attention when not receptive to mating.
For example, male Anna’s Hummingbirds have vivid fuchsia gorgets, while females have lighter, orange-red gorgets with smaller spotting.
Differences in shape
Male gorgets are often larger and more elongated than female gorgets which allows for bigger visual displays. The shape also varies between species – gorgets may appear rounded, pointed, or be shaped like a pendant.
Do baby hummingbirds have a gorget?
No, baby hummingbirds do not have a colored gorget. The chicks (called nestlings) are almost naked when they hatch, with just a light gray down covering parts of their body.
At around 3 weeks old, nestlings develop juvenile plumage, but the males lack the adult male’s bright gorget. The juvenile male’s throat will have gray-tipped feathers with some iridescent neck spots as they mature.
By the first winter, males develop their first red or colored gorget feathers. By one year old, adult males will have their full gorget colors. The gorget continues to become more vibrant and pronounced as the males age.
What other special features do hummingbirds’ throats have?
Tongue
Hummingbirds have a long, specially adapted tongue for nectar feeding. When not in use, it rolls up tightly to fit in the bird’s tiny head.
When extended, the tongue acts like a tiny straw, with fringed tips that lap up nectar. Hummingbirds stick out their tongue up to 13 times per second to feed.
Hyoid apparatus
This unique bone and muscle structure allows hummingbirds to rapidly move their tongue in and out. It takes up about one-third of their total head space.
Air sacs
Hummingbirds have air sacs on their throats and chest to assist with breathing at high altitudes and oxygen demand while hovering.
Feather muscles
Strong neck muscles allow hummingbirds to fan out their gorget feathers for display.
How many species of hummingbirds have brightly colored gorgets?
There are over 300 species of hummingbirds worldwide, the majority of which live in Central and South America. Most hummingbird species have some form of iridescent gorget.
Here are approximate numbers of some hummingbirds with special gorgets:
| Gorget Color | Number of Species |
|---|---|
| Red | 64 species |
| Blue | 39 species |
| Green | 34 species |
| Violet/Purple | 9 species |
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird of North America is one of the most widespread red-gorgeted species. Costa’s Hummingbird has one of the most vibrant violet-blue gorgets. Colombia hosts an amazing diversity of over 100 species of hummingbirds with colorful gorgets.
What threats face hummingbirds’ throats and gorgets?
Hummingbirds’ throats are vulnerable to the following threats:
Habitat loss
Destruction of forests and flowering meadows removes vital nectar sources hummingbirds depend on.
Climate change
Flower blooming cycles are disrupted by changing temperatures and seasons, limiting food availability.
Pesticides
Chemicals applied to plants may be ingested as hummingbirds drink nectar, causing illness or death.
Window collisions
Hummingbirds are prone to colliding with windows while distracted during display flights or chasing other birds, resulting in injuries to their throats and heads. Installing UV-reflective strips on windows can help prevent collisions.
Disease
Bacterial, viral, and fungal illnesses can affect the throat area. Providing clean nectar feeders helps hummingbirds stay healthy.
Conclusion
The vibrantly colored throat of a hummingbird, called a gorget, serves many crucial functions from attracting mates to dissipating excess body heat. These remarkable feathers are made even more impressive by the specialized anatomy that allows for their rapid motions during feeding. Preserving gorget diversity requires protecting hummingbird habitats from an array of modern threats. With care and conservation, these beautiful birds can continue dancing through the air displaying their flashy feathers for generations to come.
The design of the hummingbird gorget is one of evolution’s marvels – a visual communication device vital to species identification, courtship, and dominance displays. Next time you see a dash of iridescent color zoom by, take a moment to appreciate the complex biology behind that mesmerizing patch of feathers.
