maybe it is, maybe it isn’t
July 6, 2010Earlier, I’d mentioned that Sparky seemed to be in the last stages of a molt. Over the holiday weekend, we noticed what appeared to be a new hummer at the feeder.
Last year at certain times, Sparky would change to what I called his courting colors. His gorget colors extended to his head, and he would sit all puffed out, swaying from side to side to attract the Missus when he wasn’t doing the stunt flying. But then, once back at the feeder, he looked his normal sleek, mostly green and white self.
This newcomer might or might not be Sparky. His head and throat are a deep magenta all the time, it seems. If indeed it is the new, improved Sparky, he must have requested a custom color job on the molt.
But near sunset, something magical happens. When the light is just right, a lot of that magenta turns to gold.
