One-of-a-Kind Purple Hummingbird Is an Actual Glitch in the Matrix
Hummingbirds are out in full force, now, and there are so many different kinds to try and spot. Some will be cooler than others, but some will also be much easier than others. I'd be grateful to have any hummingbird sightings at all!
This Hummingbird caught everyone by surprise. When he showed up at the feeder, he looked like he was purple, only for him to reveal the coolest built-in little trick:
@flockaroundfindout Actually, this is a total glitch in the matrix! My hummingbird is pulling a "chameleon" move because of this purple feeder. Because their feathers are so reflective (iridescent!), they can actually pick up and "bounce" the color of nearby objects. #HummingbirdTok#BirdWatching#NatureGlitch#PurpleFeeder#BackyardScience
Broken Window Serenade - Isaiah Sheffield
Flock Around and Find Out is no stranger to Hummingbirds in her yard. She has a few different feeders, and lots of flowers that might help attract them, too. While they love seeing all of the birds, this one is the best!
When he gets to the feeder, he legitimately looks like he's almost entirely purple. That's not what's going on, though: he's basically turned into a little Chameleon. His feathers are so iridescent and shiny that they're reflecting the color of the Hummingbird feeder.
Related: Rare Hot Pink Hummingbird Is Pure Fairy-Tale Magic
This Hummingbird feeder is a true hit with all of the neighborhood birds, and not just the cool "purple" ones. She has a camera pointed at it at all times, so she can see all of the awesome birds who come and go:
@flockaroundfindout The Ruby-throated hummingbird's signature hum comes from its wings beating at an incredible 50 to 80 times per second. And that squeaky chirp you hear-often described as a "chee-dit"-is usually used while they are chasing each other or defending a feeder. I've seen another bird flying around so it looks like we have some competition. #birdsoftiktok#hummingbird#birdwatching#birdnerd#HummingbirdTok
original sound - FlockAroundandFindOut
This one actually features the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, which has a slightly less-reflective ruby-red throat. What is it with Hummingbirds and being such incredible colors?!
Hummingbird Feathers Are Shiny
This Hummingbird appearing to be purple is purely a result of his super shiny feathers! You can see in the video that as he gets farther away from the feeder, his gorget turns darker, almost black.
There is a special, pancake-like prismatic structure in all Hummingbird feathers that makes them shimmery and iridescent like this, though males are often more vibrant. Having shiny feathers helps them when it comes to mating, and they often flash their colors when defending their territories, too.
If you put out feeders of all different colors, you could actually watch their colors change as they went down the line. How cool is that?!
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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM.