If you’re a military junky familiar with the Raven or Puma drones made by AeroVironment Inc., you know that they look like small planes. But the Monrovia defense contractor has caught the attention of the public with a drone fashioned after a tiny bird with a taste for pollen.

Called the Nano Hummingbird, the craft is finding its way into millions of homes this month on the cover of a Time magazine devoted to inventions. Throughout the year, the bird also has been featured on CNN, ABC and other news outlets.

“It’s amazing how much interest people have in this little thing,” said Steven Gitlin, vice president of investor relations at AeroVironment.

The palm-size craft weighs less than a double-A battery, can fly up to 11 miles an hour and can be affixed with a streaming-video camera. One application might be to fly it to the scene of a nuclear meltdown to survey the damage.

In February, to announce the prototype’s completion, the company staged a flight demonstration for the media. Now, year-end best-of lists have revived interest in the product.

Since the release of Time magazine – which features a fold-out cover with three time-lapse photos of the bird – the company has been inundated with calls and e-mails.

“We’ve heard from investors, analysts, media, friends and family members. Most importantly, the employees have been delighted and pleasantly surprised,” said Gitlin, who added that the company does not yet have a production date.