View allAll Photos Tagged Hummingbird
Magnificent Hummingbird
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
please email me for more info - ray@raymondbarlow.com
Natural light and natural backgrounds only in my wildlife images.
Special thanks to all of my guests for joining these workshops!
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/125s f/5.6 at 360.0mm iso400
This was a really difficult photograph to take as this tiny hummingbird was in and out of the twigs of a small bush accessing the flowers. The background was more cluttered than I wanted but I was pleased that I managed to focus on the moving bird rather than one of the many twigs. The Scintillant Hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in the world, only marginally bigger than Bee Hummingbird. The Scintillant is yet another bird that is only found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, and nowhere else on the planet.
They are among the smallest of birds, and include the smallest extant bird species, the Bee Hummingbirds. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings 12–90 times per second (depending on the species). They can also fly backwards, and are the only group of birds able to do so. Their English name derives from the characteristic hum made by their rapid wing beats. They can fly at speeds exceeding 15 m/s (54 km/h, 34 mi/h).
De kolibrie kan door de zeer snelle vleugelslag (15 tot 80 slagen per seconde, afhankelijk van de grootte van de vogel) in de lucht stil blijven hangen. Door de snelle vleugelslag kan de kolibrie als enige vogel ook achteruit vliegen. Ze kunnen zelfs recht omhoog en recht omlaag vliegen. De 'helikopter' onder de vogels. Deze manier van vliegen vraagt echter zeer veel energie die verkregen wordt uit de suikers die in de nectar zitten.
This little guy and a friend were busy at the feeder all day. He took a short break to perch and pose before getting back to business.
"Basic Facts About Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are small, colorful birds with iridescent feathers. Their name comes from the fact that they flap their wings so fast (about 80 times per second) that they make a humming noise. Hummingbirds can fly right, left, up, down, backwards, and even upside down. They are also able to hover by flapping their wings in a figure-8 pattern. They have a specialized long and tapered bill that is used to obtain nectar from the center of long, tubular flowers. The hummingbird’s feet are used for perching only, and are not used for hopping or walking.
Diet
Hummingbirds primarily eat flower nectar, tree sap, insects and pollen.
The hummingbird’s fast breathing rate, fast heartbeat and high body temperature require that they eat often. They also require an enormous amount of food each day. Hummingbirds have a long tongue which they use to lick their food at a rate of up to 13 licks per second.
Population
It is difficult to estimate population numbers since there are many different species spanning a large geographic area.
Range
Hummingbirds are found only in the Western Hemisphere, from southeastern Alaska to southern Chile, although most live in the tropics. There are more than 300 species of hummingbirds, 12 of which summer in North America and winter in tropical areas.
Behavior
Like other birds, hummingbirds communicate via visual displays. Hummingbirds are very territorial and have been observed chasing each other and even larger birds such as hawks away from their territories.
Reproduction
Gestation: 13-22 days.
Clutch size: Between 1-3 eggs.
The young start to fly in 18 to 30 days.
Threats
Historically hummingbirds were killed for their feathers, today they face different but equally devastating threats.
Habitat loss and destruction are the hummingbird’s main threats. As hummingbirds are often specially adapted to each unique habitat, each species of hummingbird currently listed as vulnerable or endangered on the IUCN red list are all threatened due to habitat destruction and loss.
The earth's changing temperatures due to climate change are affecting hummingbird migratory patterns, causing different species to be spotted in locations well outside their normal range, where it may be harder for them to find food.
Reasons For Hope
Hummingbirds in the U.S. and around the world have the benefit of being garden and backyard favorites. Many people put out hummingbird feeders or grow flowers that attract hummingbirds in the warmer months that allow these birds to refuel during their long migratory journeys. What's in sight is often in mind, and many fans of hummingbirds are doing what they can to keep every backyard, park and garden a friendly place for these beautiful birds."
From: defenders.org/hummingbirds/basic-facts
Near Manizales, Colombia.
A female ruby-throated Hummingbird visits the feeder for an early-morning snack... as seen in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.
In the 100's of Hummingbirds I have photographed I have never gotten and image with this happening. Too unique to pass up
This is a Female Broad-bill Hummingbird.
These little guys will be leaving us soon so have to take as many shots as I can while they're still here.
Back home again - the Hummingbird visiting in bright sunlight.
I would have liked to have had some at even higher shutter speed but they come and go so quickly.
The purple behind her is our Rhodedendrum bush.
Whee! We just returned from an Aperture Academy workshop in Costa Rica. Not surprisingly, one focus was to photograph hummingbirds. You might say I was in hummingbird heaven.
This was taken in Bosque de Paz, or Forest of Peace, which is a large private biological reserve. It is located on on the Continental Divide between Costa Rica's National Poas Volcano Park and National Juan Castro Blanco Water Park. There are many feeders just outside the lodge, so all we had to do was step outside to have hummingbirds whizzing around us.
Of course, the feeders made the photography a bit challenging, trying to get shots without the feeder in the frame. Every once in a while, I got lucky.
This is a male Violet Sabrewing. He was the largest of the many hummingbirds here, but amongst the hardest to capture. I have only cropped this from the left and right sides - vertically, this is full frame!
This Green Violetear Hummingbird was perched in the gardens by the Savegre Mountain Hotel.
For range map, summary, and much other information:
avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=526...
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Violetear
For more about the hotel: www.savegre.co.cr/indexeng.html
Savegre Mountain Hotel, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, March 4, 2011.