"Ruby Throated Hummingbirds"

Installed a new Hummingbird feeder in the backyard this weekend and immediately the male youth showed up. Set up my camera and a way we went. I want to get a shot of his wings stopped in midair. Because we are having a wet summer this years there haven’t seen many bright days for high speed shots. Hope for sunshine today.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird arrives ...

One of my favourite shots taken yesterday with lots of sunshine;)

Got this one preening

This is a juvenile male who seems quite unconcerned that I'm sitting 6 feet from him. Hand-held shot at 200mm, ambient light only with the 5D Mark II.

Here's his father from the same shoot:

www.flickr.com/photos/jasonpaluck/3737699662/

Leucistic Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. I can't believe it! I was on the phone looking out at the garden and this little guy stopped by! Wow!

McKee Beshers WMA

Poolesville, Maryland

0337-2

A few photos of a young male Ruby Throated Hummingbird sporting his first few ruby feathers in his throat

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have many skeletal and flight muscle adaptations which allow the bird great agility in flight. Muscles make up 25-30% of their body weight, and they have long, bladelike wings that, unlike the wings of other birds, connect to the body only from the shoulder joint. This adaptation allows the wing to rotate almost 180°, enabling the bird to fly not only forward but also straight up and down, sideways, and backwards, and to hover in front of flowers as it feeds on nectar and insects.

During hovering, ruby-throated hummingbird wings beat 55x/sec, 61x/sec when moving backwards, and at least 75x/sec when moving forward.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird building a nest.

Flyers enjoying the nectar

From my garden July 2021

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was enjoying the sun. Preening and relaxing with a little stretching thrown in for good measure.

Very challenging. It took about 30 shots to get a few keepers. This is the best one. Would have been nice to have the flower in the shot but hey lucky to have the eye in focus;-)

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have many skeletal and flight muscle adaptations which allow the bird great agility in flight. Muscles make up 25-30% of their body weight, and they have long, bladelike wings that, unlike the wings of other birds, connect to the body only from the shoulder joint. This adaptation allows the wing to rotate almost 180°, enabling the bird to fly not only forward but also straight up and down, sideways, and backwards, and to hover in front of flowers as it feeds on nectar and insects.

During hovering, ruby-throated hummingbird wings beat 55x/sec, 61x/sec when moving backwards, and at least 75x/sec when moving forward.

I'm really beginning to wonder why we still have hummingbirds? I read they usually leave our area the middle of September so maybe they'll get going this weekend. I'm still enjoying them but want them to leave here before the cold weather hits.

2 females enjoy sipping from opposite sides of the feeder.

"Ruby Throated Hummingbirds"Male

Approach shot

Ruby Throated Hummingbird up close and personal

Ruby Throated Hummingbird with no tail. 10/12/11 Houston, Texas

"Ruby Throated Hummingbirds" Male

Took this on the morning of 9/5/19. I love watching these amazing birds!

More photos of Ruby Throated hummingbirds in the garden enjoying the dog days of summer and stopping by the feeder often for a sip of nectar. Mostly females in this set.