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007 - Gentleman hummingbird


007 - Gentleman hummingbird
Photo Information
Copyright: Margit Schendel (Margit) (83)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-10
Categories: Birds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-04-29 6:59
Viewed: 1263
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A ‘gentleman’ hummingbird
The hummingbird was waiting until the bee had satisfied its thirst. This gave me time to focus on its body. Why didn’t I get a sharp shot of its wings even with the “sports-program” selected? (Olympus C-740UZ)

The Bird That Kisses Flowers (translation from the word “beija-flor” used in Brazil)
Hummingbirds are known for aerobatics par excellence. For a moment, one will hover at a flower, drinking its nectar, with its humming wings a misty blur. Then, with a start, this mighty mite darts forward, backward, sideways, or even upside down with 50 to 70—some say 80—wingbeats per second! Reportedly, it can reach speeds of 30 to 60 miles per hour [50 to 100 km/h] and then come to an abrupt stop.
Courtship Rites
Some hummingbird species in Central and South America attract their ladyloves by means of their singing. The wine-throated hummingbird, of Guatemala, is most musical in its cadences. And the white-eared hummingbird’s song sounds like “the chiming of a small, sweet-toned silver bell.” Most, though, are not known as songsters. They simply repeat a few monotonous, metallic notes over and over again or at other times hum with beaks closed and gorget swelled out.
Some hummers put on a dazzling display of aerobatics in their courtship ritual. This is true of the rufous, a fiery streak that plummets from a great height to a point just above the watching female and then—just in time—swoops upward to describe the letter J. To and fro he maneuvers on the base of the J until returning to the high point again or flying off with his new mate. His wingbeats during this showy display may reach two hundred per second! (extracted from the “Awake!” Magazin, August 8, 1999, page 15)
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pedrooliveira: RetribuiçãoMargit 1 05-02 19:17
To Fisher: Sharpness of hummingbird wings...Margit 2 05-01 16:34
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Critiques [Translate]

You achieved the shot well. Nothing wrong with this one. Excelent composition.

Do you know how fast these birds flap their wings?
Depending on their size 38-78 beats per second, others, the smaller ones have been clocked at 200 beats per second. The larger ones 8-10 beats per second.
Now, that's the reason why you did very well with this capture. :) :) :)

Mike

This is my all time favorite bird, Margit, and I think you captured it very well!
I have spent many hours, trying to get a good shot of one, only to have it change direction or flit from view in a split second. But they are so fascinating.
Great composition with good detail, thank you for sharing it with us, and heightening my excitement about summer things...

  • Great 
  • nofer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1219 W: 367 N: 805] (2225)
  • [2005-05-01 11:23]

Ótimo tiro. Bonita foto.... parabéns...
não é fácil o danadinho do beija-flor...
Obrigado!
Reynaldo

Boa foto... gostei... uma foto difícil realmente.
Margit, uma sugestão, você já recebeu 5 páginas de críticas e só deu 5 críticas, que tal começar a retribuir? Aqui no(s) treks é incentivado a isto, uma troca de gentileza.

Excelente fotografia.
Tirada na hora H.
Na Belgica não temos destes passaros.

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