on magic wings ~ the jewels of my garden

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Hummingbirds

I don't recall exactly when these flying jewels captured my heart.  I remember many times, watching in awe, as they would hover over a flower, sipping nectar, or chase a rival out of their feeding territory.  The sound of those magic wings was the lure and eventually I put up one feeder, then two around the yard.   As the number of feeders grew, so did my desire to capture the hummingbirds in flight.  Their population around the yard during spring and fall migration have given me ample opportunity to witness their activity through my lens.  (Click on any picture to view larger)



male Anna's Hummingbird ~ Calypte anna

 If you've ever witnessed the boisterous behavior of Hummingbirds, it's hard to imagine the tenacity of a bird with an average weight of less than an ounce and overall measurement of only 3" to 4".  


 

female Anna's Hummingbird ~ Calypte anna

Hummingbirds in flight are a truly magical thing.  They have the distinct ability to fly forward, backward, and even upside down briefly.  They can also hover in place.  The bones in Hummingbirds are permanently fixed except at the shoulder where they can move in all directions.  While they hover, the wings move in a figure 8 pattern.  The wings can beat upwards of 80 plus times per second depending on the species.



Immature male Anna's Hummingbird ~ Calypte anna




female Rufous Hummingbird ~ Selasphorus rufus



female Anna's Hummingbird ~ Calypte anna

Female Rufous Hummingbird ~ Selasphorus rufus



Due to their high metabolism, Hummingbirds need to refurbish their energy supply frequently, generally at the rate of about once every 10 minutes.  Flower nectar is one of their primary sources of refueling.

Sugar water feeders also offer a source of enegy. The color red on a feeder is a particular lure for the Hummingbird and helps them identify a feeding source from a distance. 

Sugar water supplements should be mixed at the rate of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.  Feeders should be cleaned and changed once a week to make sure that the mixture does not spoil.

Hummingbirds also feed on small insects such as aphid which satisfy the need for protein in their diet.

female Rufous Hummingbird ~ Selasphorus rufus



male Calliope Hummingbird ~ Stellula calliope

Nothing stands out as brightly in the garden as the flash of iridescent color on the throat and heads of the male Hummingbirds.  While the Anna's has a fully colored gorget (throat) and head, the Rufous has coloration only on the gorget.  The Black Chin has an iridescent collar around his neck which reflects a beautiful lavender purple in the sunlight.  The small Calliope has purple streaking (called a beard) of iridescence on his throat.

male Anna's Hummingbird ~ Calypte anna



male Rufous Hummingbird ~ Selasphorus rufus

male Black Chin Hummingbird ~ Archilochus alexandri



male Calliope Hummingbird ~ Stellula calliope



This will be the first in a series of blogs on these little powerhouses.  Until next time, may you be blessed with the presence of magic wings whereever you are.

 



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