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Little cutie
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Helene Provencher (chouette)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 0 N: 843]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (3000) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2005-05-29 |
| Categories: Birds |
| Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel |
| Details: Tripod: Yes |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2005-05-30 21:16 |
| Viewed: 1358 |
| Favorites: 1 [view] |
| Points: 9 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
A little ray of sunshine on a rainy day.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
(Archilochus colubris)
The only species of hummingbird that breeds in eastern North America, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is found throughout the eastern deciduous and mixed forests. It flies nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico to winter in Central America.
Cool Facts
* The Ruby-throated Hummingbird beats its wings 53 times a second.
* The extremely short legs of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird prevent it from walking or hopping. The best it can do is shuffle along a perch. Nevertheless, it scratches its head and neck by raising its foot up and over its wing.
* The Ruby-throated Hummingbird does not show a strong preference for any particular color of feeder. Instead, it prefers specific feeder locations.
Description
* Size: 7-9 cm (3-4 in)
* Wingspan: 8-11 cm (3-4 in)
* Average weight: 3.1 g (1/8 ounce)
Respiration: 250 per minute
Heart rate: 250 beats/min resting; 1200 beats/min feeding
* Tiny bird.
* Back iridescent green.
* Hovers at flowers.
* Male with brilliant iridescent red throat.
Sex Differences:
Male with brilliant metallic red throat, female with white. Female with white tips to tail feathers. Female larger.
Habitat:
* Breeds in mixed woodlands and eastern deciduous forest, gardens, and orchards.
* Winters in tropical deciduous forest, tropical dry forests, scrubland, citrus groves, and second growth.
Food:
Flower nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Comes to hummingbird feeders.
Behavior
Foraging:
Hovers at flowers and sap wells, catches insects in flight and plucks them from leaves, plucks spiders from their webs.
Reproduction
Nest Type:
Nest an open cup placed on top of small tree branch. Made of thistle and dandelion down, held together with spider web and covered on outside with lichens.
Egg Description:
Usually 2 white eggs, pea-sized, which the female will incubate from 60 to 80 percent of the day for 12-16 days. Reports of the duration of the nestling phase vary from 14 to 31 days, the wide range possibly varying with the availability of food; 18-23 days is normal. when they leave the nest, the chicks are considerably larger than their mothers: they may weigh 4.5 grams, while poor Mom is down to only 2.5 g after the stress of raising them. Since the mother starts incubating the first egg as soon as it's laid, that chick will hatch and fledge earlier than its sibling; it will remain close to the nest until the other chick is ready to fly. After leaving the nest, fledglings are fed by their mother for about 10 days. It is thought that Ruby-throats live as long as 12 years, but the average is probably 3-5 years.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel
Lens: Canon EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6
Speed: 1/320 f/6.3
ISO 400
Focal Length: 290mm |
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- manyee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3103 W: 234 N: 5930]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(20016) - [2005-05-30 22:03]
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Wow... that is a great shot, Helene! Those little guys are soo hard to get... they move around so fast. You did a great job here, sharp details and good light. TFS. : )
Cute wee chap Helene. Looks a little out of focus to me. Nice work. Thanks
Nice composition and a touch animal to capture! Could be a little sharper, you might want to try some PP. I like it!
Very nice picture, Helene.
Little soft. Well composed, good POV and nice colours.
good and informative note.
Very well done.
an excellent capture, great pose and clean background. Stunning bird! A bit on the soft side though, nevertheless an excellent effort.
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 22 W: 0 N: 92]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif){kind=small}
