Hummingbird Flight
A male broad-billed hummingbird briefly pauses to tout his brilliant colors! Often found higher in the mountains amidst deciduous forest, broad bills do sometimes make their rounds through Tucson, especially during wintertime, when the high-elevation cold can be intolerable. Madera Canyon, AZ.
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A Magnificent Profile
This Rivoli's hummingbird (formerly known as the magnificent hummingbird) was kind enough to allow a few seconds for his head shot. Towering more than a third over other local hummingbirds, the Rivoli's certainly stands out in a crowd!
Considering their size and absolutely breathtaking colors, it's little wonder that "magnificent" was once their common name. Photo taken at Madera Canyon, AZ, USA.
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Anna in Flight
A male Anna's hummingbird, occupied by the never-ending search for nectar. Prior to the popular use of artificial hummingbird feeders, these beauties were largely seasonal migrants of Southeastern Arizona.
I think it's safe to say that many of us have no opposition to Anna's hummingbirds sticking around all winter long! Photo taken at Madera Canyon, AZ.
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Rivoli’s Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are uniquely tough to photograph on overcast days. Their colors, however, really pop. This Rivoli's (formerly magnificent) hummingbird kept perching on a stick right in front of me. Madera Canyon, AZ.
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Purple-Throated Mountain Gem
Sit very still in a strategic location and the nature experiences can be amazing! Respect the wild creatures and they will view you differently than another noisy human.
So often, photographers chase after "the perfect shot," stressing out their subjects and ultimately missing the most captivating photo-ops that only emerge with patience. Just outside of Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest, I sat very still next to a hummingbird feeding station. All manner of exciting species landed just inches away with little effort on my part, and no stress to the subjects!
Gloomy Magnificence
Hummingbirds are uniquely tough to photograph on overcast days. Their colors, however, really pop. This Rivoli's (formerly magnificent) hummingbird kept perching on a stick right in front of me. Towering more than a third over other local hummingbirds, the Rivoli's certainly stands out in a crowd!
Considering their size and absolutely breathtaking colors, it's little wonder that "magnificent" was once their common name. Madera Canyon, AZ.
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Gloomy Hummingbird
More heavily edited than my usual style, this broad-billed hummingbird makes a fantastic gloomy subject. Often found higher in the mountains amidst deciduous forest, broad bills do sometimes make their rounds through Tucson, especially during wintertime, when the high-elevation cold can be intolerable. Madera Canyon, AZ.
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Soaring Sabrewing
A far larger hummingbird than most, these beauties also seemed unusually evasive. Monteverde Cloud Forest, being a largely intact high-elevation rainforest and isolated by tropical lowlands, is a treasure trove of unique species. Just outside of Monteverde Reserve, Costa Rica.
Sunlit Iridescence
When bathed in bright sunlight, a broad-billed hummingbird's beautiful spectrum of colors are hard to overlook. Often found higher in the mountains amidst deciduous forest, broad bills do sometimes make their rounds through Tucson, especially during wintertime, when the high-elevation cold can be intolerable. Madera Canyon, AZ.
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A Broad-Billed Portrait
Behold: The intricate detail of a broad-billed hummingbird! These magical little forest fairies are exclusive to the western hemisphere. The tropics of Africa and Asia have insects and small birds which satisfy comparable ecological roles, but nothing quite like hummingbirds! Madera Canyon, AZ.
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Violet Ear, Violet Flowers
Like other pollinators, hummingbirds rely on flowers as a source of food. Considering how much energy they expend beating those tiny wings, the average hummingbird must visit 1000-2000 flowers in a single day. No matter where you live, keep this in mind while considering whether to allow those colorful "weeds" to encroach just a wee bit further into the yard. Every native plant has an important role and wildflower gardens, in particular, contribute so much important food to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Curi-Cancha Reserve, Costa Rica.
Anna’s Profile
The beautiful array of colors on the gorget of an Anna's Hummingbird. These hummingbirds are often considered "pink," but an overcast day highlights so much more. Anna's hummingbirds tend to stand out in a crowd, given their vibrant pink necks, and plump perching posture.
Tucson, AZ.
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Green Violetear
Sit very still in a strategic location and the nature experiences can be amazing! Respect the wild creatures and they will view you differently than another noisy human.
So often, photographers chase after "the perfect shot," stressing out their subjects and ultimately missing the most captivating photo-ops that only emerge with patience. Just outside of Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest, I sat very still next to a hummingbird feeding station. All manner of exciting species landed just inches away with little effort on my part, and no stress to the subjects!
Bird and Bromeliads
By comparison, this little violet-eared hummingbird appeared so tiny alongside the large bromeliad plants! Curi-Cancha Reserve, Costa Rica.
Lady Hummingbirds
Green-Crowned Brilliant
Bee and the Violetear
This little snippet of drama did not at all play out in the manner one might think. The beautiful violet-eared hummingbird, rather than snatching the small bee, quickly vacated his perch when the buzzing encroached too near. Curi-Cancha Reserve, Costa Rica.
Gem of the Mountain
Illuminated by a gentle flash, the female purple-throated mountain gem hardly seems to fit her name. Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica.
Violet Sabrewing
A far larger hummingbird than most, these beauties also seemed unusually evasive. Monteverde Cloud Forest, being a largely intact high-elevation rainforest and isolated by tropical lowlands, is a treasure trove of unique species. Just outside of Monteverde Reserve, Costa Rica.
Violet-Crowned Woodnymph
Immediately after watching a pair of scarlet macaws make love, I felt in very high spirits. Awareness now higher, I noticed this violet-crowned woodnymph buzzing around in the shadows. Dos Brazos de Tigre, Costa Rica.
Blue-Throated Goldentail
Like other pollinators, hummingbirds rely on flowers as a source of food. Considering how much energy they expend beating those tiny wings, the average hummingbird must visit 1000-2000 flowers in a single day. No matter where you live, keep this in mind while considering whether to allow those colorful "weeds" to encroach just a wee bit further into the yard. Every native plant has an important role and wildflower gardens, in particular, contribute so much important food to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.
Some of the most spectacular birds to observe, hummingbirds can be found in practically any color of the rainbow. Their iridescent colors and lightning-fast movements make them extremely challenging, yet rewarding photography subjects. Although Africa and Asia have house stunning birds that occupy similar ecological niches, hummingbirds are exclusive to the Western Hemisphere. In addition to their important flower pollinator roles, hummingbirds eat countless tiny insects (such as the uniquely-frustrating gnats). When flowers are scarce, feeders are a nice way to supplement their diet, but please NEVER provide anything with red dye as it’s extremely toxic to hummingbirds. Arizona is home to more species than any other state in the US, species which are heavily represented in this album.
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