Disheveled and Delightful
A wonderful and incredibly colorful feathered friend is exploring my yard this morning. There's nothing quite like the vibrant beauty of a bird gracing your yard to brighten the day.
I know he looks hungover, but actually I caught this Allen's Hummingbird preening after a run through the sprinklers.
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Allen's Hummingbird:
The Allen's Hummingbird, a vibrant spectacle of copper and green, signals spring along the Pacific Coast. Males are particularly dazzling, flaunting brilliant reddish-orange throats as they perform intricate aerial displays for females. These elaborate shows involve swinging in broad arcs, then soaring high before diving back down with a sharp, distinctive squeal produced by their tails. While many spend their winters in Mexico, some Allen's Hummingbirds remain in Southern California year-round.
These remarkable hummingbirds breed within a narrow strip of coastal habitat stretching across Oregon and California. Interestingly, males and females opt for different environments during this crucial season. The male establishes a territory in open coastal scrub or chaparral, prominently perching on exposed branches to oversee his domain. Females, however, once mated, seek out denser thickets or forests to build their nests and raise their young.
The Allen's Hummingbird is an exceptionally early migrant among North American birds. Some northbound individuals begin their journey from wintering grounds as early as December, arriving on their breeding territories by January. This early arrival coincides perfectly with the abundance of flowers brought forth by winter rains.
Like other bird species, Allen's Hummingbirds cleverly use their feet to regulate their body temperature. When facing cold conditions, they tuck their feet against their bellies while in flight to conserve warmth. Conversely, when temperatures climb, they let their feet dangle, allowing for efficient cooling.
These tiny, resilient birds can also be surprisingly long-lived. The oldest recorded Allen's Hummingbird was a female, at least 5 years old when she was recaptured and rereleased in California in 2009, five years after her initial banding in the same state.
(Nikon Z8, 100-400/5.6, 1/1600 @ f/8.0, ISO 2800, edited to taste)
Disheveled and Delightful
A wonderful and incredibly colorful feathered friend is exploring my yard this morning. There's nothing quite like the vibrant beauty of a bird gracing your yard to brighten the day.
I know he looks hungover, but actually I caught this Allen's Hummingbird preening after a run through the sprinklers.
_________________________
Allen's Hummingbird:
The Allen's Hummingbird, a vibrant spectacle of copper and green, signals spring along the Pacific Coast. Males are particularly dazzling, flaunting brilliant reddish-orange throats as they perform intricate aerial displays for females. These elaborate shows involve swinging in broad arcs, then soaring high before diving back down with a sharp, distinctive squeal produced by their tails. While many spend their winters in Mexico, some Allen's Hummingbirds remain in Southern California year-round.
These remarkable hummingbirds breed within a narrow strip of coastal habitat stretching across Oregon and California. Interestingly, males and females opt for different environments during this crucial season. The male establishes a territory in open coastal scrub or chaparral, prominently perching on exposed branches to oversee his domain. Females, however, once mated, seek out denser thickets or forests to build their nests and raise their young.
The Allen's Hummingbird is an exceptionally early migrant among North American birds. Some northbound individuals begin their journey from wintering grounds as early as December, arriving on their breeding territories by January. This early arrival coincides perfectly with the abundance of flowers brought forth by winter rains.
Like other bird species, Allen's Hummingbirds cleverly use their feet to regulate their body temperature. When facing cold conditions, they tuck their feet against their bellies while in flight to conserve warmth. Conversely, when temperatures climb, they let their feet dangle, allowing for efficient cooling.
These tiny, resilient birds can also be surprisingly long-lived. The oldest recorded Allen's Hummingbird was a female, at least 5 years old when she was recaptured and rereleased in California in 2009, five years after her initial banding in the same state.
(Nikon Z8, 100-400/5.6, 1/1600 @ f/8.0, ISO 2800, edited to taste)