The Hummingbirds Wildlife Study contains 68 portraits, flight shots and flight studies of the
Anna’s Hummingbird, the Allen’s Hummingbird, and the Green Violet-eared Hummingbird,
including two composites showing rare images of the Anna’s Hummingbird courtship ritual.

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The Banner below leads to the Hummingbirds Gallery where these images are located.

There are 83 images in the Photoshelter Hummingbirds Gallery.

Allen’s Male on Mallow 1989 M

An Allen’s Hummingbird male fluffed up against the cold, perched on a Mallow at Descanso Gardens.

All of the landscape (horizontal) large version images linked from the thumbnails are 1500 pixels wide.
Portrait (vertical) images are 1200 pixels tall (1290 pixels with title bar). Images designated with an “M”
in the shot number are 5:4 aspect ratio, 1500 x 1290 with a title bar, or 1500 x 1200 without a title bar.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male HS3268

Another Allen’s Hummingbird male on a beautiful February morning at Sepulveda Wildlife Refuge.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male HS3283

Allen’s Hummingbird Male HS3293

The Allen’s Hummingbird is very similar to the Rufous Hummingbird, but with a green back and forehead.
The occasional green-backed Rufous Hummingbird is indistinguishable from the Allen’s in the field, and the
immature Allen’s Hummingbird is indistinguishable from Rufous females. Most identifications are made based
upon the breeding season and ranges. Most Allen’s Hummingbirds are found in brushy wooded areas north of
Santa Barbara, California to southern Oregon, but a group from Santa Barbara’s Channel Islands migrated
to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southern Los Angeles in the 1960s and spread throughout the LA area.
The Rufous Hummingbird prefers open areas near the edge of forests, although they are migratory and
are often found in other areas. Allen’s and Rufous males have iridescent copper-red throat patches.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male HS3332

Allen’s Hummingbird Male X4221

The green flecks on the forehead are visible in many of these images, making identification possible.
If a bird is seen during aerial display, their different display techniques will make identification easier.
The Allen’s begins the display by shuttling back and forth, then climbs to about 100 feet and makes a
screaming J-shaped dive, emitting a metallic whine from its wings during the dive. They occasionally
dive on people to chase them out of their territory. Believe me, the screaming whine is unmistakable.

The Rufous Hummingbird makes a series of slow climbs to J-shaped dives, but begins each dive at a
different point around an imaginary circle, emits a stuttering “dit”, and ends each dive at the same spot.

Male Allen’s Hummingbirds are extremely aggressive and very territorial. They will chase other males
and any other hummingbirds away from their chosen territory, and will also attack Kestrels and Hawks.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Color Display HS3396

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Color Display HS3430

Males attracts females with their iridescent copper-red gorget, and when one approaches it begins its aerial display.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Color Display HS3380

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Color Display HS3424

The brilliant reflection from the iridescent copper-red throat patch (gorget) of the Allen’s Hummingbird male.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male HS3406 M

An Allen’s Hummingbird male perches on a branch at Sepulveda Wildlife Refuge, hoping to attract a female.

The Banner below leads to the Hummingbirds Gallery where these images are located.

There are 83 images in the Photoshelter Hummingbirds Gallery.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Display HS3306 M

An Allen’s Hummingbird male flashes its iridescent gorget and spreads its wings in display.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Display SXL

A 1500 x 1290 version of the SXL composite (4005 x 3330) showing an Allen’s Hummingbird male
spreading its tail feathers, flashing its iridescent gorget, and spreading its wings to attract a female.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Eyes Closed HS3323

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Eyes Closed HS3392

The image above left shows the Allen’s male squeezing its eyes closed tightly. The image on the right
shows the bird in a Zen-like state of relaxation, contemplating the wonderfulness of being a hummingbird.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Scratching HS3439-40

An Allen’s Hummingbird male takes a moment to rid itself of a pesky flea.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Trilling HS3382-85 M

An Allen’s Hummingbird male singing to attract a mate.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male HS3447 M

An Allen’s Hummingbird male regains its balance after being nearly blown off its branch by a gust of wind.

Allen’s Hummingbird Male Balance Issues SXL

A 1500 x 1290 version of the SXL composite (4005 x 3330) showing an Allen’s Hummingbird
male as it struggles to regain its balance, after being nearly blown off its branch by a gust of wind.

The Banner below leads to the Hummingbirds Gallery where these images are located.

There are 83 images in the Photoshelter Hummingbirds Gallery.

Anna’s Hummingbird Male HS2845 M

This series of images shows a perched Anna’s Hummingbird male at Sepulveda Wildlife Refuge.

These images presented a technical challenge, as the bird was sitting in the shade at mid-morning
back-lit against a bright blue sky. Capturing detail and color in the shaded areas of the face and helmet
while avoiding overexposure of the sky required dancing a fine line, and image processing was demanding.

Anna’s Hummingbird Male HS2877 M

Anna’s Hummingbird Male HS2882 M

The Anna’s Hummingbird was named after Anna Massena, Duchess of Rivoli.

The Anna’s is a medium-sized hummingbird about 4 inches long, with an emerald green back
and sides, and a greenish-gray chest and belly. The male is the only North American hummingbird
which has a red helmet and gorget. Females and juveniles have a green head and a gray throat and
belly. Males have a forked tail, females and juveniles have rounded tails with white-tipped feathers.

Anna’s Hummingbird Color Display M

The male Anna’s Hummingbird has a gorget which extends over its entire head in a helmet.
Here, the hummingbird flashes its colors, a tricky capture as the front of the bird is in the shade.

Anna’s Hummingbird Male Color Display HS2794 M

Anna’s Hummingbird Male Color Display HS2816 M

The Anna’s male flashes its colors and sings with a metallic trilling sound to attract a mate. Unlike most hummingbirds,
the Anna’s male also sings during courtship. Images captured during the courtship ritual are at the bottom of the page.

Anna’s Hummingbird Male Color Display HS2860

Anna’s Hummingbird Male Color Display HS2887

An Anna’s Hummingbird male flashes his gorget while perched in these portraits shot against the light at
Sepulveda Wildlife Refuge. Most often when the bird is not directly lit, the helmet appears to be a dull brown.

Anna’s Hummingbird Male HS2912

Anna’s Hummingbird Male Eyes Closed HS2914

This Anna’s male seems relaxed and pleased with himself. He closes his eyes, contemplating
deep philosophical thoughts, and scrupulously plans his next series of moves to attract a mate.

Anna’s Hummingbird Male Eyes Closed HS2795 M

An Anna’s Hummingbird male has a serene look on his face as he relaxes at Sepulveda Wildlife Refuge.

Anna’s Hummingbird Male Display HS2867 M

Anna’s Hummingbird Male Display HS2868 M

An Anna’s male flares his tail and flashes his gorget in an emphatic display at Sepulveda Wildlife Refuge.

Anna’s Hummingbird Male Balancing HS2818 M

A gust of wind nearly blows the bird off his branch, causing this hilarious reaction as he regains his balance.

The Banner below leads to the Hummingbirds Gallery where these images are located.

There are 83 images in the Photoshelter Hummingbirds Gallery.

Anna’s Male 2076

An Anna’s Hummingbird male perched in the shade of the Camellia Forest at Descanso Gardens.

Anna’s Male 2078

In the soft light of the Camellia Forest, the spectacular color display of the Anna’s male gorget
draws the attention of any females in the area. Of course, this is not his only attractive feature.

Anna’s Male Display 2079

In case the brilliant color display is not enough, the hummingbird spreads his tail and wings.

Anna’s Male Trilling 2191

An Anna’s male bursts into song at Descanso Gardens. His song is a combination of trills, metallic squeaks and chirps.

Anna’s Male 2149

Depending on the angle of the light, the colorful gorget can appear brown, rusty orange, purplish, crimson red or gold.

Anna’s Male 2153

Anna’s Male 2154

The Anna’s Hummingbird male moves his iridescent head around and stretches his neck to flash different colors.

Anna’s Male 2155

Anna’s Male 2156

This Anna’s male was quit adept at displaying the full range of colors, even in the soft, diffuse light.

Anna’s Hummingbird Male 8534

Another Anna’s Male overlooking a shady wooded area of Temescal Canyon in LA.

The Banner below leads to the Hummingbirds Gallery where these images are located.

There are 83 images in the Photoshelter Hummingbirds Gallery.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female on Sage 2866

An Anna’s Hummingbird female, captured from above and behind while hovering to feed on Mexican Sage.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female on Sage 2870 M

The hummingbird flies close to the Sage and hovers, selecting an attractive opening while beating her wings
80 times per second. She then flits closer to drink nectar from the flower, backs out and selects another flower.
The hummingbird is the only bird which is able to fly backwards, which makes it possible to feed in this way.
Note the pollen atop the hummingbird’s bill. When she feeds, she pollinates flowers in return for her nectar.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female on Sage 2871

Anna’s Hummingbird Female on Sage 2872

The hummingbird flits around from flower to flower, drinking nectar and pollinating each flower on the stalk.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female on Sage 2875 M

An Anna’s Hummingbird female hovers in front of a Mexican Sage, drinking nectar from its flowers.

Besides drinking nectar, the Anna’s Hummingbird is a carnivore, eating insects and spiders it finds
on the flowers for the protein they offer, as well as occasionally catching flying insects in the air. They
also will perch near a spider web to snatch the insects which get caught in the web. When they catch
an insect in the air, they will fly close to the insect and open their bill wide, snapping it down on the
hapless bug rather than skewering it on the sharp point. Every now and then, a hummingbird will
impale a bee or wasp on its bill though, and usually dies from starvation before it can free itself.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female on Sage 2877

For some of the shots in this sequence (2870, 2871 and 2877) I used a low-level fill-flash to highlight
the wings and stop the wing motion. This is one of the rare instances when I use flash for nature shots.

There are two Flight Study composites available of the Anna’s Hummingbird on Sage.

Anna’s Hummingbird Flight Study on Sage XL

A 1500 x 1101 version of the XL composite (3005 x 2205), showing an Anna’s Hummingbird female
feeding on Sage. This is based on 1500 pixel images similar to those linked from displays on this page.

Anna’s Hummingbird Flight Study on Sage XXL

A 1600 x 853 version of the XXL composite (6010 x 3205), showing the Anna’s female
feeding on Sage. This is based on 2000 pixel images cropped from the VLG master images.

The Banner below leads to the Hummingbirds Gallery where these images are located.

There are 83 images in the Photoshelter Hummingbirds Gallery.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 4099

An Anna’s Hummingbird Female sporting a flowery beak decoration,
taken at Indian Peak Ranch in Mariposa near Yosemite National Park.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 4126

Wing warp during hovering flight. A hummingbird’s wings beat up to 80 times per second, allowing them to hover in mid-air.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 4127

Hummingbirds can fly as fast as 35 miles per hour, and are also the only known bird capable of flying backwards.

This Anna’s Hummingbird female was captured in the process of transitioning from forward to hovering flight.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female Flight Study

A flight study showing an Anna’s Hummingbird Female as she transitions to hovering flight,
taken at Indian Peak Ranch in Mariposa, a few miles southwest of Yosemite National Park.

Anna’s Hummingbird on Aloe 1623 M

Anna’s Hummingbird on Aloe 1624 M

An Anna’s Hummingbird female drinking from Kalanchoe. Hummingbirds like tubular flowers.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 1209 M

An Anna’s Hummingbird female captured in hovering flight. This bird flew to about 20 feet
from me and checked out my long black bill. Note the markings on the throat (female gorget).

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 1222 M

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 1223 M

Another Anna’s Hummingbird female isolated in hovering flight in front of a rare neutral background.

Anna’s Hummingbird Female 1224 M

Note the flash of color in the throat. The Anna’s female is one of few hummingbirds which has a tiny gorget.

Anna’s Male Hummingbird 1239 M

An Anna’s Hummingbird male also stopped by for an isolation portrait in front of the neutral background.
It is very rare to have an opportunity at a hummingbird in front of a neutral background in my experience.

The Banner below leads to the Hummingbirds Gallery where these images are located.

There are 83 images in the Photoshelter Hummingbirds Gallery.

Green Violet-Eared Hummingbird 6195

The Green Violet-Eared Hummingbird (Green Violet-ear) is generally found in forested areas from
Southern Mexico to Northern South America. This particular individual decided to immigrate to the US.
It was found in a shaded forest area just north of the border in San Diego. The Green Violet-Ear is a little
bit larger than the Anna’s Hummingbird (this one was about 4.5 inches long), and has a brilliant green body
with iridescent blue patches under the eyes. The throat and chest are a more iridescent green than the body.

Green Violet-Eared Hummingbird 6227

Green Violet-Eared Hummingbird 6236

The Green Violet-Eared Hummingbird sometimes wanders into Texas and eastern and central USA,
where it is extremely aggressive and chases other hummingbirds away, but they do not breed in the US.

Hummingbird Courtship

An Anna’s male attracts a female, and after doing his J-shaped mating dives, displays for the female,
who indicates her assent by closing her eyes. The female flies to a nearby branch, and the male zips over
and mounts her in flight. The entire mating event was over in a second and a half. The male immediately left.

Hummingbird Love SXL

A 1650 x 640 version of the SXL composite (4137 x 1605) of a rarely seen mating sequence.

A male Anna’s performs a courtship display for a female (left), mounts her in flight, and leaves.
The female builds a nest of small twigs, lichen and moss, and lines the nest with feathers and hair.
The nest is bound with spider silk and sap. The female Anna’s Hummingbird raises her young alone.

The Anna’s male performs a courtship display dive which reaches 60 mph at the bottom of the dive.
I have never successfully captured a clean image of this dive as it is impossible to track the bird.
The Anna’s male also uses this dive to drive away rivals or intruders. After the dive attracts an
appreciative female, the male spreads his cheek and neck feathers, the female indicates
her pleasure with a blink, and the male mounts her and consummates the relationship.
The entire sequence occurs quite rapidly, and the denouement takes two seconds.
It is rare to see the actual mating sequence, and it is difficult to capture images.

Nesting Anna’s Hummingbird 0612c

A female Anna’s Hummingbird sitting atop her nest wedged into the fork of a tree.
The 2 inch diameter nest is built of twigs, lichen and moss, lined with feathers and hair,
and is bound together with spider silk, tree sap, and other sticky substances. The female
builds and attends the nest and raises her two chicks without the assistance of the male.

The Banner below leads to the Hummingbirds Gallery where these images are located.

There are 83 images in the Photoshelter Hummingbirds Gallery.