Ruby topaz
A male ruby topaz hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus). Hummers are territorial and this one would perch on this branch to watch over his domain. Anytime another hummer entered, he would fly off to chase it away.
I wanted to get him (or any other hummer) feeding off a flower, but they just move so fast. I had to settle for a perch shot. This location was inside a tree, so I used a ladder to get eye-level and a flash to provide fill light.
The male ruby topaz has wonderful colors but they are not on display all of the time (or even most of the time). You need to catch the male when it flares out its feathers which causes it to transfer from a drab brown little bird into something like what you see here - red top, yellow breast.
Ruby topaz
A male ruby topaz hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus). Hummers are territorial and this one would perch on this branch to watch over his domain. Anytime another hummer entered, he would fly off to chase it away.
I wanted to get him (or any other hummer) feeding off a flower, but they just move so fast. I had to settle for a perch shot. This location was inside a tree, so I used a ladder to get eye-level and a flash to provide fill light.
The male ruby topaz has wonderful colors but they are not on display all of the time (or even most of the time). You need to catch the male when it flares out its feathers which causes it to transfer from a drab brown little bird into something like what you see here - red top, yellow breast.