What are those tiny splashes of color that greet us in the morning? Arizona boasts almost 20 different kinds of hummingbirds (out of the total 360 species found from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego).

If amid the common desert landscaping you find blooming bushes like hibiscus 🌺  (not only great as iced-tea) you are most likely to encounter the smallest little birds there are. They are called the HummingBirds (because of the noise they make with their wings while hanging in the air which can flap between 12 to 80 beats per second). The smallest ones are called bee hummingbirds and measure only 2 inches long.

They can live for over 10 years - so if you're looking for a low-key friend - here’s an idea :)

There are two found fossils of hummingbirds that are 30 million old. They are showcased in Stuttgart Germany in a local museum. Since those ancient days, their dispersal changed to the Americas and extinct in Eurasia.

Their coatings are strikingly beautiful thanks to both pigmentation and primal cells within the top layers of feathers of their head, breast, gorget, back, and wings. So when the sunlight hits them - it reflects with various intensities. They use this trick to attract the opposite sex or to defend their territory by shifting their position towards the sun they become instantaneously vivid.

AZ kinds:

• Anna’s Hummingbird - southeastern mountains (Huachucas, Santa Ritas, Santa Catalinas, and Mules). They are the only species that can sing in the US. They can get very territorial.
• Black-chinned Hummingbirds - spend winters in Mexico.
• Berylline Hummingbirds are also Summer residents. Found mostly in pine-oak woodland and sycamore streamline forest in mountain canyons.
• Blue-throated Hummingbirds - spend a spring-summer season in southeastern AZ.
• Broad-billed Hummingbirds.
• Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.
• Magnificent or Refulgent Hummingbirds - they stay late March to late October and stay mostly in mountainous areas. Uncommon north of Mogollon Rim and east into New Mexico. They are the biggest kind in the US.
• White-eared Hummingbirds - pretty rare visitors.
• Lucifer Hummingbirds.
• Bumblebee Hummingbirds (accidental visitors).
• Calliope Hummingbirds.
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
• Rufous Hummingbirds - tend to pass Arizona July through mid-October in large groups. They are the biggest bullies and tend to chase away other hummingbirds around.

This water bottle was inspired by the variety of colors the hummingbirds bring into our state. We hope it will inspire you to hike and explore more while staying hydrated :)

Share your adventure pics with us by tagging us on Instagram @Coulor.art

Cheers,

Couloir