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Arrival


Arrival
Photo Information
Copyright: Wally Rufous (rufous03) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 78 W: 14 N: 212] (1366)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 L USM
Exposure: f/22, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds in Flight [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-11-17 11:22
Viewed: 5221
Favorites: 8 [view]
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a small hummingbird, about 8 cm long with a long, straight and very slender bill. The female is slightly larger than the male.

The adult male, shown in the photo, has a white breast, rufous face, upperparts, flanks and tail and an iridescent orange-red throat patch (gorget). Some males have some green on back and/or crown. The female has green upperparts, white underparts, some iridescent orange feathers in the center of the throat, and a dark tail with white tips and rufous base. Females and the rare green-backed males are extremely difficult to differentiate from Allen's Hummingbird.

Their breeding habitat is open areas and forest edges in western North America from southern Alaska to California. This bird nests further north than any other hummingbird. The female builds a nest in a protected location in a shrub or conifer. The male aggressively defends feeding locations within his territory. The same male may mate with several females

They are migratory, many of them migrating through the Rocky Mountains and nearby lowlands in July and August to take advantage of the wildflower season there. They may stay in one spot for considerable time, in which case the migrants, like breeding birds, often aggressively take over and defend feeding locations. Most winter in wooded areas in the Mexico state of Guerrero, traveling over 2,000 miles by an overland route from its nearest summer home--a prodigious journey for a bird weighing only three or four grams.

This is the western hummingbird most likely to stray into eastern North America. There has been an increasing trend for them to migrate east to winter in the eastern United States, rather than south to Central America. This trend is the result of increased survival with the provision of artificial feeders in gardens. In the past, individuals that migrated east in error would usually die, but now they often survive, and their tendency to migrate east is inherited by their offspring. Provided sufficient food and shelter is available, they are surprisingly hardy, able to tolerate temperatures down to at least -20°C.

These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue or catch insects on the wing.

Because of their small size, they are vulnerable to insect-eating birds and animals. These birds require frequent feeding while active during the day and become torpid at night to conserve energy
peter_stoeckl, ddg, Lycaon, elefantino, wallhalla15, marjan, jmp, Juyona, coasties, zenitlady, JORAPAVI, meyerd, Tamrock has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Bac: replyrufous03 1 04-22 17:16
To mrcrow: replyrufous03 2 11-17 13:51
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Critiques [Translate]

how does anyone get a shot like this
its a carboard cutout...:D
massive technique brought to bear here and the superb use of the canon stable of equipment
thanks
geof

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 867 W: 24 N: 1008] (5507)
  • [2006-11-17 12:00]

Bonjour Walter, what a shot, can't be done better!! Super timing and splendid lighting too. Best regrds, Didier.

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2006-11-17 12:23]

Hello Walter , What a fantastic shot a great capture from the hummingbird ,beauty colours details compositie , good job ,Greetings Teunie .

Amazing capture!
Excellent details, compo and BG.
Lovely light on the eye.
Andrea

Walter,

Beautiful shot of this hummer.
The colors and sharpness are great!.
Pov and dof and right on,

fototab

This is a brilliant shot! Excellent details and sharpness, perfect composition and great colours. Fantastic work! Well done, Walter. Thank you for posting.
Gr.
Heinz

  • Great 
  • marjan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 459 W: 14 N: 366] (2685)
  • [2006-11-17 13:49]

hi Walter, excelent shot ,. good PVO and fantastic cololures in this dinamic photo.Very good useful info,
Marjan

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2006-11-17 13:54]

Hi Walter,
Beautiful capture absolutely motionless. Excellent focus, exposure, colors, pov and composition. Background is wonderful!
TFS, José M.

Hello Walter what a beautiful and colourful photo.
I also like the blueish background as contrast to the birds feathers.
Very well done!
Greetings Jan-Arie

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2006-11-17 18:02]

Walter es increible el control que tienes con éstos pájaros, saludos y felicidades...Victor

Hi EWalter

A flawless image. Simply beautiful! TFS.

Hello Walter! Incredible capture, what an accomplishment! Very interesting notes. You've even captured the sparkle in his eye. Superb! Linda

Hi Walter,
marvellous capture, brilliant colours, perfect background. Perfect composition as well.
The pose of diving flight frozen in motion in an absolutely stunning way. Superb.
Thank you! Best regards,
Peter

Hi Walter,
Good image of course...
Good collection Hummingbirds.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2006-11-18 4:31]

Excellente phto!
Bravo et merci pour le partage.
Joseph

Hello,
This is a very impressive shot Walter. What a great POV and timing you had for this! Details are very nice and this compo superb! Stunning capture with interesting notes! Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2006-11-18 15:27]

Wow! Just perfect!
Another winner, Walter... Perfect on all counts!
Your expertise leaves me speechless.
TFS another masterpiece. : )

Preciosa captura con gran detalle, composición, nitidez, luz y color, lo tiene todo, enhorabuena. Saludos

Dear Walter,
I just discovered this unique shot of yours. Wow! No wonder you are called "rufous". I tried to take snapshots of hummingbirds myself (no success), I fully appreciate the technical challenge.
Thanks for this, Dietrich

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2249 W: 65 N: 4205] (13972)
  • [2007-02-02 6:36]

Very impressive! POV, Colors, details, composition, focus, sharpness and clarity is excellent. Bravo and TFS
Selen

hi wally!
this is a amazing shot!
very beautiful in all ways
good work!

  • Great 
  • Bac Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 93 W: 3 N: 33] (486)
  • [2007-04-19 12:13]
  • [+]

It's simply the perfection, and i suppose it was really hard to do it. TFS

Christian

Hello Walter,
what a beautiful in flight shot!!! Great sharpness and natural colours!!! Well done.
Regards, Joăo Edgar

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