Photography of Birds – Set # 142 | H.J. Ruiz - Avian101

Photography of Birds – Set # 142

Set # 142

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (M)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (M)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (M)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (M)

These photos were shot within a fraction of a second, this birds can do that with their throat feathers.

Hummingbirds have many skeletal and flight muscle adaptations which allow great agility in flight. Muscles make up 25–30% of their body weight, and they have long, blade-like wings that, unlike the wings of other birds, connect to the body only from the shoulder joint. This adaptation allows the wing to rotate almost 180°, enabling the bird to fly not only forward but backward, and to hover in mid-air, flight capabilities that are similar to insects and unique among birds.

A hummingbird’s ability to hover is due to its small mass, high wingbeat frequency and relatively large margin of mass-specific power available for flight. Hummingbirds achieve ability to support their weight and hover from wing beats creating lift on the downstroke of a wing flap and also on the upstroke in a ratio of 75%:25%, respectively, similarly to an insect. Hummingbirds and insects gain lift during hovering partially through inversion of their cambered wings during an upstroke. During hovering, hummingbird wings beat up to 80 times per second.

Based on my own observations, I’ve seen them chase each other at high speed and then brake in the air down to zero. On one occasion I was shooting pictures of one of them, it saw me and flew rapidly toward me, it stopped right in front of the camera then turned back to the nectar feeder. I thought it was going to crash into me.

© HJ Ruiz – Avian101

Tags: birding, birds, Interesting information, PHOTO SETS, photography, photos of birds, Ruby-throated Hummingbird

10 thoughts on “Photography of Birds – Set # 142”

silviadeangelis40d on September 27, 2020 at 3:47 pm said:

Un bellissimo becco a punta…
Buona settimana,silvia

Reply ↓
- H.J. for avian101 on September 27, 2020 at 6:03 pm said:
  
  Grazie mille, Silvia. Buona settimana! 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
tootlepedal on September 27, 2020 at 6:13 pm said:

I would like to see hummingbirds flying after reading your description.

Reply ↓
- H.J. for avian101 on September 27, 2020 at 6:26 pm said:
  
  Once you see a hummingbird, you can’t help it but love them. Imagine a bird that weighs 5 grams! 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
de Wets Wild on September 27, 2020 at 9:52 pm said:

Their iridescent plumage is as fascinating as their sugar-fueled lifestyle!

Reply ↓
- H.J. for avian101 on September 28, 2020 at 3:38 pm said:
  
  They drink their nectar several time their own weight…daily! Thanks, D. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Paul G Pickering on September 28, 2020 at 7:34 am said:

Very nice. The Ruby-throated is the only true migrant hummer here in Costa Rica.

Reply ↓
- H.J. for avian101 on September 28, 2020 at 3:40 pm said:
  
  I get them in my backyard every year! I love them! Thanks, Paul. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
bayphotosbydonna on September 28, 2020 at 8:12 pm said:

Fabulous comparison shots, HJ! ❤

Reply ↓
- H.J. for avian101 on September 28, 2020 at 9:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks a lot, Donna. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓

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