One of few high altitude hummingbirds, and not easy to get up close with unless you know it’s favorite specimens of flowering plants in its territory, to which it will return to over and over again. This was the only encounter of my time in Ecuador, albeit from a considerable distance. It sounds like this: […]
A frequent visitor to feeders in Ecuador and here its visiting a brugmansia trumpet flower. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3089 meters
At 11 cm (4,33 in) and a long bill its one of the larger species of hummingbirds. It’s commonly visiting feeders throughout its range in Ecuador. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3089 meters
One of the smallest of the hummingbird species. Both sexes look alike. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3089 meters
A large hummingbird with a distinct hum from its large wings. Its visit to feeders is very brief and sporadic so it’s harder to photograph than many of the other hummers as they patrol their their territory sequentially. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1034 meters
The white-necked jacobin is a very common visitor to feeders in Ecuador and is unmissable. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1034 meters
The female white-necked jacobin lacks the striking blue and white of the male, but as is the case with most female birds their duller plumage is so for a reason – to blend in well with the surrounding during nesting to avoid predation. The white-necked jacobin is a very common visitor to the feeders, but […]
One of the larger species of hummingbirds. It’s a common visitor of feeders and gardens in its range in Ecuador. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1034 meters
Capturing a hummingbird perched for a prolonged time is not easy nor predictable as they perch only for brief moments between feeding and squabbling over territory. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1034 meters
Capturing a hummingbird perched for a prolonged time is not easy nor predictable as they perch only for brief moments between feeding and squabbling over territory. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1034 meters
Capturing a hummingbird perched for a prolonged time is not easy nor predictable as they perch only for brief moments between feeding and squabbling over territory. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1034 meters
Capturing a hummingbird perched for a prolonged time is not easy nor predictable as they perch only for brief moments between feeding and squabbling over territory. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1034 meters
A large and brilliantly green species that visits feeders and gardens in its range in Ecuador. Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) feeding while the empress brillian is on its way in to get some more. There is frequently fierce fights around these flowers and feeders, where either size or impudence will grant a sip of nectar. […]
This species is one of the smallest of the hummingbirds, and weighs just 3 g (0,11 oz) and is commonly seen in Ecuador. This is a male green thorntail, and the largest of the sexes, measuring 10 cm (3.9 in) long. Its small size makes the wings sound like a large bumble bee. It sounds […]
With its long bill the brown inca is easy to distinguish from other species. It’s frequently visiting feeders and is commonly seen in Ecuador. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1310 meters
A common and widespread species frequenting feeders throughout it’s range in Ecuador. The only way to fully capture and freeze the fast moving wings of the hummingbirds is through flash photography, and each exposure is a way to study in detail every adjustment they perform which are too fast and frequent to our eyes and […]
I only recall seeing this species here in Mashpi, and am happy I was able to capture it. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1310 meters
This species is one of the smallest of the hummingbirds, and weighs just 3 g (0,11 oz) and is commonly seen in Ecuador. This is a female green thorntail, the smallest of the sexes, measuring just 7.5 cm (3.0 in) long. Its small size makes the wings sound like that of a large bumble bee. […]
An amazingly beautiful plumage that is only indicated in this dull, overcast and foggy capture. When Sunlight hits the plumage in the right angle to the viewer it sparkles. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2051 meters
As the name implies this is a species of violetear hummingbird with little color, except the violet “ears”. The other violetears are brilliant green. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2051 meters
Unmistakable with its long violet colored tail feathers, but as with all of the hummingbird’s plumage the colors are brilliant only at the right angle of light to the viewer. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2051 meters
A frequent visitor to feeders in Ecuador taking a quick rest between sips of nectar. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2051 meters
Frequent visitor to feeders in Ecuador. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2051 meters
A common visitor to gardens and feeders in Ecuador. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2051 meters
This species is one of the smallest of the hummingbirds, at just 7.5 cm (3 in) long and weighing nearly 3 g (0,11 oz). It’s commonly seen in Ecuador. Its small size makes the wings sound like a large bumble bee. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1749 meters
A frequent and persistent visitor to feeders in its range, and at this location in Ecuador I had plenty of of opportunities to capture it. Other species might come just once or twice in several hours. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1749 meters
It’s during flight, or if perched even in a gust of wind, the elegance and beauty of its tail feathers truly come to life as they sway and flash its colors as it moves, hovers or fights of rivals. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1749 meters
A common species in Ecuador, and one I encountered on every location I visited in its range. Parts of its primary feathers seemed to be growing out, yet its flight skills was unimpeded by this. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1749 meters
It’s during flight the elegance and beauty of its tail feathers truly come to life as they sway and flash its colors as it moves, hovers or fights of rivals. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1749 meters
Unmistakable with its long violet colored tail feathers. The long tail is at its most mesmerizing during flight. It sounds like this: Elevation: 1749 meters
One of the larger species of hummingbirds and with a long bill to macth. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A frequent visitor to feeders in Ecuador. Here it’s visiting one of a large number of species of fuchsia. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A common hummingbird at higher elevations. These hummers are so small (just 6,5-7mm / 2,55-2,75 inch) their wings sound like bumble bees. This is the male. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A common hummingbird at higher elevations. These hummers are so small (just 6,5-7mm / 2,55-2,75 inch) their wings sound like bumble bees. This is the female. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A frequent visitor to feeders in Ecuador. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A frequent visitor to feeders in Ecuador. Here it’s visiting one of a large number of species of fuchsia. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A frequent visitor to feeders in Ecuador. Here it’s visiting a large inflorescence of a succulent. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A very frequent visitor to feeders in Ecuador and here its presence gave me ample opportunities to get shots from any angle. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
It resembles the lesser violetear (Colibri cyanotus), but the lesser is distinctly smaller. The lesser violetear also lacks the blue spot on the belly – seen in picture below. A White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant) is rather small compared to the sparklilng violetear. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
At 11 cm (4,33 in) and a long bill its one of the larger species of hummingbirds. It’s commonly visiting feeders throughout its range in Ecuador. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A common and widespread species in Ecuador, and very frequent visitor to feeders. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A species of hummingbird that often sits on the flower during nectar probing rather than hovering. Box sexes have the same plumage. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
A fitting name, as in the right light and angle the rump and lower back will truly shine brilliantly in green and purple. In all other angles it seems rather blandly colored. It sounds like this: Elevation: 3211 meters
One of the larger species of hummingbird, here seen in an orchard of several species of fruit trees as the daylight is fading. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2268 meters
One of the larger species of hummingbird, here seen in an orchard of several species of fruit trees. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2252 meters
A sip of nectar from one of a large number of fuchsia species found in Costa Rica. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2268 meters
A fitting name and clearly seen here against its otherwise green plumage. It sounds like this: Elevation: 2268 meters
On occasion there might be a few hummingbirds feeding at the same time on a given flower, but that is usually a very brief moment in time, as many are territorial and will swoop in to chase them off. The on on the left is the woodnymph. It sounds like this: Crowned Woodnymph: White-necked Jacobin:
A large hummingbird with a distinct hum from its large wings. Its visit to feeders is very brief and sporadic so it’s harder to photograph than many of the other hummers. It sounds like this:
Capturing a hummingbird perched for a prolonged time is not easy nor predictable as they perch only for brief moments between feeding and squabbling over territory. It sounds like this:
The crowned woodnympth is a common visitor to feeders in Costa Rica. It sounds like this:
The white-necked jacobin is a common visitor to feeders in Costa Rica. It sounds like this:
This is one of the larger species of hummingbird. It sounds like this:
This is one of the larger species of hummingbird frequenting feeding stations. Here it’s taking a break from the high-energy chases of other hummers perceived to be competitors. It sounds like this:
Soaked in rain this individual is taking a short break on a heliconia inflorescense. It sounds like this:
This bronze-tailed plumeleteer is taking a short braeak on its favourite perch – the tip of a heliconia inflorescense. It sounds like this:
For some strange reason I never got to see the gorgeous male, so this female is the only of the species I encountered during my stay at Hotel do Ype. Altitude: 1021 metres. It sounds like this:
One of several species of hummingbird visiting the feeders at Hotel do Ype. Altitude: 1021 metres. It sounds like this:
One of several species of hummingbird visiting the feeders at Hotel do Ype. Just a tiny difference in angle, an the plumage seems all green and rather drab in comparison. Altitude: 1021 metres. It sounds like this:
Some birds are so well camouflaged that you can only see them when they move. This small bird blends perfectly against the high contrast of the greyish clouds and the foliage. This is from the western canopy tower of Cristalino Jungle Lodge. It sounds like this:
A female. Altitude 2706 metres. It sounds like this:
This hummingbird simply defies logic and forces of nature! Despite the enormous length of the beak, it flies just like any other humming bird – except perhaps a bit more tweaking to fit the beak into the flower or feeding port. Altitude 2706 metres. It sounds like this:
The distinctive, large white chest makes it quite easy to recognize, even for novice birders. Altitude 2706 metres. It sounds like this:
The small woodstars can be difficult to classify, but the first is to eliminate by range, as well as to look in the local birdlist. In this case only the Gorgeted and White-bellied Woodstar is registered, and it’s the color white that in this case settles it. This is the female. Altitude 2706 metres. It […]
Altitude 2706 metres. It sounds like this:
The small woodstars can be difficult to classify, but the first is to eliminate by range, as well as to look in the local birdlist. In this case only the Gorgeted and White-bellied Woodstar is registered, and it’s the color white that in this case settles it. This is the male. Altitude 2706 metres. It […]
Hummingbirds are extraordinarily visual and acrobatic, but also very loud and territorial. This is no yawn, but a high-pitched audio communication. Silence is by no means invisible. In the right angle also this one will flash in bright color, in this case green. Another angle and one is completely oblivious to the hidden green iridescence. […]
Tinalandia has several hummingbird feeders that are refilled every day. In daytime the several species of hummingbirds feed from them and at night numerous bats swiftly empty what remains from the daytime feast. The most fascinating about the hummingbirds might not be their incredible speed and agility, but perhaps more so their incredible plumage and […]