This was another instance where I didn’t know what I’d photographed until I reviewed my images at home. That happens often with hummingbirds because they’re so incredibly fast.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago we found this male Broad-tailed Hummingbird in the mountains as he was guarding his territory on a prominent high perch. I wasn’t terribly excited about photographing him because he mostly just sat there with his back to me as he faced the far side of the valley from his elevated perch. My goal was to get him taking off or landing so I kept my itchy trigger finger on the shutter button and hoped for a miracle (which was unlikely with him facing away from me).
Suddenly we heard the distinctive sound of another hummer nearby and the relatively relaxed demeanor of this one instantly changed. He flared his tail and looked behind him and to his left where the other bird was presumably approaching (I never did see the intruder, we only heard it). I believe the intruder was about to pass between me and this bird from my left to my right.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
In one incredibly fast and fluid motion he whirled on his perch and lifted his wings to take off in pursuit of the intruder that was passing from left to right. But the second bird was behind him so he had to take off semi-backwards and that required…
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
some amazing wing gymnastics that only hummingbirds are fully capable off. Just look at that wing rotation!
Because of their unique physiology and anatomy hummingbirds can actually pivot (rotate) their wings 180° which allows them to fly more like insects than like other birds. In this case he used this ability to take off nearly backwards in pursuit of the intruder. In my next shot in the burst he was already completely out of frame.
I’ve never before been able to capture this much rotation in hummingbird wings so I was pretty happy to get the shot. Notice that even with a shutter speed of 1/4000 there’s still motion blur in the wings.
Some viewers may be put off by the intensely bright green background color but it can be explained by the following photo.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender
A few minutes before I photographed the hummer I encountered this cowboy taking a smoke break on the far side of the valley with his horse and dog by his side. I thought it was an interesting pastoral scene so I took a few shots with my long lens. This year it’s hard to believe I live in the arid west because our spring and early summer have been so wet and cool that everything is much greener than usual. This grass-green color is what we see in the background of the hummer shots.
This dude may actually be a sheepherder rather than a cowboy but I went with the latter because of all the cows on the mountainside right now.
Ron
Note: If you have the interest more about the unique flying abilities of hummingbirds can be found here.
Classic cowboy break. Horse ground tied. Like that shot. Again, great captures of the hummers.
We love to watch our black-chinned hummers at the feeders. They certainly didn’t learn “sharing is caring,” did they?
Wonderful shots Ron!
Charlotte
Ooooh.
That wing rotation is incredible. Beautiful AND an acrobat. Albeit a bad-tempered territorial acrobat. Love it. I suspect our cowboys would be reclining for their smoko in the dust much more often than on a soft green carpet.
Thanks, EC. Our cowboys usually don’t get such a lush carpet either.
Hi Ron, I am not usually that taken by hummingbird photos, most of what I see are the ruby-throated up here in New England, and alot of the pics look the same to me. However, I really enjoyed your picture for the great color, gleaming gorget, and wing action! Thanks so much for all of your fascinating posts- I check them out daily.
“I check them out daily”
That’s very nice to know, Richard. Thank you.
Beautiful photos all. The wing rotation reminds me of the fins of a breaching humpback whale. Might be an interesting study in comparative anatomy.
Interesting observation about the whale fins, Lyle. You’re right.
Amazing wing rotation and that gorget lit up like the Vegas strip — nailed it! 😎 I like the green background and the shot showing the reason. Although, anyone smoking out in the “wilderness” makes me a little nervous… 🔥
Thank you, Marty. It’s so green up there I doubt anything would burn right now. But give it a month or so and it’ll be a real tinderbox.
Interesting info on how a hummer can rotate it’s wings like that. I never knew but then how could I they’re here and gone in a split second ❗️
Something about a cowboy, his dog and a horse love this picture 😁
PS Hope everyone has been enjoying Yellowstone Live the past few nights
Have a great day
Thanks, Diana. I tried watching a couple of the earlier episodes on that “Live” series on PBS but they seemed just a little too, I dunno… contrived for me. But then I have weird tastes when it comes to nature shows.
That’s how my husband feels. Just video of the animals and no talkie would be fine with me 😬
Superb sequence! I would be excited just to see a hummer perched for a few seconds. Didn’t think they ever landed!
Love the bonus shot of the horseman. Guess he “herd” you were in the area.
Thanks, Wally. He probably didn’t even know I was there…
You never disappoint! Beautiful images, interesting post and excellent tid-bits about hummingbird flight! Who would guess you were and are an educator!! VBG!
Since I have always loved horses, I truly enjoyed your pastoral last picture, very nice scene, sort of the way I have seen the west in my mind, even though I love seeing old pictures of the wild west with herds of cattle and wild bison.
Many thanks for sharing!
I enjoy seeing old photos like that too, Dick. The “romance” of the old west still strikes a chord with me.
Never knew the wings were capable of such. Excellent capture. They are a crazy lot! I’m amazed at their speed…watching the defense of their territory is enough to just tire a person out. There is usually more than enough to go around but they are not a sharing group. Just the energy spent on defense…phenomenal! Wonder what that would be converted to dollars…😏
Thanks, Kathy. Yes, I marvel that nature selected such aggressive behaviors in hummingbirds. Seems largely a waste of precious energy, especially for such a tiny bird, but what do I know.
WOW! 🙂 That is a truly spectacular shot of the wing rotation! Doesn’t seem physically possible! Wonderful what the camera will capture when motion is stopped. Love the Cowboy/Sheepherder “taking 5” with his BC and horse. Just watching you and whatever. Those folks are VERY tuned into their surroundings also……. 🙂
Judy, just imagine what we could do with our arms if we could rotate them 180° at the shoulders and elbows. Hell, I could even scratch my entire back!
“to fly more like insects than like other birds” That’s a perfect description of these little guys and gals. Beautiful photos – so colorful. Love the cowboy taking a break too. Thanks for including.
Everett, sometimes I take shots on impulse, just for the helluva it and occasionally it pays off as I think it did with that photo of the cowboy. Now if he only had a real cowboy hat on…