Female Broad-tailed Hummingbird hovering under a Wax Currant – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
A few days ago I photographed my first of the season Broad-tailed Hummingbird and I was elated that the bird was a female. Why? Because I have taken more photos of male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds than I have of the females and I see the females less often too.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird female feeding on the nectar of a Wax Currant – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Perhaps I see the female Broad-tailed Hummingbirds less often than I do the males because right after the females arrive on their breeding grounds they are busy building tiny nests from spiderwebs and mosses, laying eggs, incubating, and tending to their young. Male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds don’t assist with any of that.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird female hovering under a Wax Currant flower – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The males seem to have their favorite perches near their feeding grounds but I haven’t noticed that kind of perch preference while observing females in the field.
Hovering female Broad-tailed Hummingbird in May – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I noticed that this particular female fed from under the branches of the Wax Currant shrub more often than she fed out in the open. That might be because the currant flowers were just barely opened but she might also have fed that way to shield herself from the view of potential predators or territorial males.
Female Broad-tailed Hummingbird back view – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I included this photo because it showed the female Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s tail fanned out. The rufous coloring on the outer tail feathers along with the the white tips are some of the key features I use when identifying the females of this species.
Female Broad-tailed Hummingbird in a spotlight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I wasn’t sure I liked this photo of the female Broad-tailed Hummingbird because such a large portion of her body and wings are in the shadows but I really, really liked the spot of light on her eye.
Resting female Broad-tailed Hummingbird – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
After feeding the little female Broad-tailed Hummingbird did rest for a few moments on the Wax Currant bush before she flew off into the forest. I was delighted to photograph her out in the open, to spend time with her while she was feeding on the nectar of the currant and to have her in my viewfinder for as long as I did.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Broad-tailed Hummingbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
Very interesting to note the tail feathers’ colours in that one shot. Thanks for sharing all these lovely photos.
Lucky you, lucky us.
And yes, that shadow shot is a beauty.
She is a lovely girl! I, too, find the shadow shot very appealing — reminds me of the old movies that had that highlight filter across the eyes of the actress to make them seem younger.
Wonderful series! Hummingbirds seem so strange to me due to the size. Who could imagine a bird so small!
Beaujtiful series.
Beautiful photos, Mia.