Category: Hummingbird Pictures

Categories
Hummingbird Pictures Hummingbirds

The Blue-throated Hummingbird

Someone recently asked me what is the largest hummingbird species found in the United States? I must admit that I did not know the answer at the time this question was asked of me. This prompted me to do some research so that I could return to my friend with the correct answer to their question. Here is what I discovered as a result of my research.

The Blue-throated Hummingbird is the largest hummingbird species found in the United States. It is three times larger then the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, weighing an astounding 7.6 grams. This species of hummingbird measures 5 inches long and has an 8 inch wingspan.

The bird is uniformly gray below, with a bronze rump and an oversized blackish tail with large white corners. It is not easy to see the blue on the male’s throat, despite the hummingbird’s name. Relative of the Blue-throated Hummingbird, the Amethyst-throated Hummingbird and others, typically have plumage showing a higher degree of sexual dimorphism, and more extensive iridescence.

A Blue-throated Hummingbird at a flower
A Blue-throated Hummingbird at a flower

All factual information contained in this post comes from the National Audubon Society and I wish to give proper credit for the information found here.

Categories
Hummingbird Pictures Hummingbirds

The Broad-tailed Hummingbird

In this post you will see a photo of a Broad-tailed Hummingbird as well as discovering a few facts about this particular species of hummingbird.

A Broad-tailed Hummingbird feeding at a flower
A Broad-tailed Hummingbird feeding at a flower

When in flight, the male Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s wings make a cricket-like whistling sound.

It is a female Broad-tailed Hummingbird which holds the North American age record, 12 years old. This is far older then the average hummingbird which usually only lives between 3-4 years.

The females of this species of hummingbird are larger then the males. The female weighs 3.6 grams while the male only weighs 3.16 grams.

The Broad-tailed hummingbird is observed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, and Manitoba. They are known to winter in Mexico.

Categories
Hummingbird Pictures

Hummingbird Perched on Feeder

This photo was taken by my sister during the 2009 hummingbird season.  It was taken while sitting on the back porch.  Unfortunately, I am unable to identify the particular species of hummingbird in the photo.  Any help in doing so would be greatly appreciated.
Hummingbird Perched on a Feeder
Hummingbird Perched on a Feeder
Categories
Hummingbird Pictures

Why Use a Hummingbird Blind?

Hummingbirds move so quickly that it is often difficult or almost impossible to capture that ever elusive photograph that you desire.  Successfully accomplishing this task will likely take a great deal of time and willingness to wait before your efforts will be rewarded, so you may as well be comfortable while you do so.  This post will offer some suggestions on things that you can do to get closer to the hummingbirds you want to photograph and how to be comfortable while taking the photographs you desire.

The use of a portable “outhouse” type of hummingbird blind can be quite helpful.  This type of blind is commonly called a “hide.”  This allows you to remain out of sight of the hummingbird and thus you will be far less likely to startle the bird with your actions.

The blind should be placed between the feeder and the sun in the late evening so you will not have to worry about the feeder being in the shade.

The blind should be up at least a day before you take the photos. This will allow the birds will become used to it being there. There is no time limit as to how long the blind can remain up, as long as the birds remain in your area.

Keep this in mind, sudden movement or motion startles hummingbirds. That is why the use of a hummingbird blind is useful when trying to take photos of hummingbirds because your movements will be far less likely to startle the hummingbirds and you will therefore be more likely to capture the hummingbird photograph you desire.

Categories
Hummingbird Pictures

Basic Tips On Photographing Hummingbirds

Today’s post does not offer a photograph of a specific species of hummingbird, but rather offers some basic tips to help you photograph hummingbirds more successfully.   If you are like me, any advice which will help improve our efforts in this area is greatly appreciated.  With continued effort and the right advice, maybe our skill at photographing hummingbirds will improve and each of us will be lucky enough to capture a wonderful shot of a hummingbird.  So, keep taking those photos and trying to improve along the way.

It is best that there be only one feeder out while you are trying to photograph the hummingbird.  Then there will be only the one feeder at which for the hummingbird to feed while you are trying to capture your shot.  Also, you know where to aim your camera, rather then having to guess at which feeder the bird will want to feed.   

The feeder should be hung at a level that is even with the camera.  To help accomplish this, the hummingbird feeder can be hung either on a string or between two trees.

If you are trying to successfully capture a shot of a hummingbird in flight, then the hummingbird feeder should have no perches on it, because this will not allow the hummingbird a place on which to land and rest.

You can determine how you want the hummingbird to pose.  You do this by plugging all the holes in the feeder except for the one from which you want the hummingbird to feed.  You then rotate the feeder as needed to give you a better angle from which to help you capture the shot that you desire.

It is my hope that these basic tips will help you when you try to photograph hummingbirds.  After all, hummingbirds are far too beautiful to only see for a brief moment, and what better way to capture that beauty as a lasting memory then through a beautiful photograph.