Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird flashing his gorget – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I thought I would share a few photos of a adult male Broad-tailed Hummingbird I took high in the Wasatch Mountains last week as he flashed his gorget. The rose-pink of his gorget is definitely eye-catching and gorgeous. It is always a thrill to see.
Relaxed male Broad-tailed Hummingbird – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
But the color of the Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s gorget can disappear in seconds or become much duller. These first two images are just five frames apart, so less than a second with the burst rate I have with my Nikon D500. The bright pink of the gorget is much less vibrant in the second image.
Resting adult male Broad-tailed Hummingbird in spring – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
In this third image barely any pink shows in the gorget of the male Broad-tailed Hummingbird even though he is on exactly the same perch.
The feathers in the gorget aren’t pink at all. Those feathers have no pigmentation.
Alert adult male Broad-tailed Hummingbird – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The color that we see in this hummingbird’s gorget comes from the shape and microscopic structure of the feathers and how light interacts with those microscopic structures. The Broad-tailed Hummingbird can change the angle of those feathers by lifting them up slightly and then we see the iridescence if the light angle is just right.
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird settling onto his perch – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It doesn’t take much of a light or head angle change for the gorget feathers to show the iridescence again.
This male Broad-tailed Hummingbird had stretched his wings and tail feathers briefly and was settling back onto his favorite perch.
Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird showing the color of his gorget – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Just three frames later his gorget was an almost neon metallic pink because he turned towards me slightly, fluffed and flashed his gorget feathers. In the blink of an eye that bright pink iridescence was gone again.
I’ve learned that when I am taking photos of male hummingbirds to try to get a good light angle and to take longer bursts of them than I do female hummingbirds or I might miss the flash of their gorgets.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Broad-tailed Hummingbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
More info on: The Physics of Hummingbird Colors
That is one of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing!
Andrea
Sweet set of pics. The Hummingbirds iridescent colors are stunning. Thanks Mia.
Stunning! Thanks for posting
Now that is a flasher I would love to see. Many thanks.
Wonderful images, I love the colors and the flowers in the background. I can’t seem to get the right angle on them. I have a lot again this year. I have wondered if it is because I do so many releases and they return to the area the next years. I do have fantastic habitat for them. My yard is set up for them with favorite flowers, feeders and water fountain. Plus I have Red Butte creek (the gully) behind my yard with a lush habitat. I have spotted 3 nests in the gully, up high and in dense branches.
Oh April. Colour me envious.
Beautiful images Mia, thanks for sharing.