{"id":134377,"date":"2024-09-11T02:45:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T07:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=134377"},"modified":"2024-09-11T05:31:47","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T10:31:47","slug":"young-male-ruby-throated-hummingbird-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/09\/11\/young-male-ruby-throated-hummingbird-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Young Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m really very excited to share photos and a video clip of a young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird that I focused on for quite some time yesterday morning.<\/p>\n

\"YoungYoung male Ruby-throated Hummingbird scratching his head \u2013 Canon R7, f8, 1\/1600, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Canon 100-400mm at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The immature male hummingbird was cooperative because he kept returning to the same perch repeatedly. I could prefocus, and when I heard his little wings buzzing, I was ready to take photos of him.<\/p>\n

And I did. Hundreds of them.<\/p>\n

\"ImmatureImmature Ruby-throated Hummingbird male with an eye on the sky \u2013 Canon R7, f8, 1\/1600, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Canon 100-400mm at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout my time with this tiny flying jewel yesterday, I noticed that he often seemed to be keeping an eye on the sky. Perhaps he heard other hummingbirds flying past on migration; I\u2019m really not sure. But he repeated this behavior frequently.<\/p>\n

\"ScratchingScratching young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird \u2013 Canon R7, f8, 1\/1600, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Canon 100-400mm at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

That is, when he wasn\u2019t feeding on the fresh nectar in the feeder, preening, scratching, or paying attention to all the bird activity around him.<\/p>\n

He did seem to scratch a lot. I imagine he still has new feathers coming in, and from what I understand, they can be itchy. I know my pet birds, which I had as a teen and as a young woman, scratched often when they were molting.<\/p>\n

\"YoungYoung male Ruby-throated Hummingbird staring at the sky \u2013 Canon R7, f8, 1\/1600, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Canon 100-400mm at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

And this pose? I felt like I was going to get a kink in my neck just watching him. I don’t know what was going on, but he held this pose for more than a minute, though it seemed longer to me.<\/p>\n

Maybe he was showing me his newly emerged ruby feathers on his throat?<\/p>\n

For several days in a row now, the low temperatures have been in the upper 40s and lower 50s. I\u2019ve already noticed a change in insect noise, it seems duller than it did just a week ago.<\/p>\n

These Ruby-throated Hummingbirds<\/span><\/a> will be taking off on migration soon. Knowing that, I decided I had better attempt to take some videos of this very confiding, beautiful little bird.<\/p>\n

I tried not to shiver when I was taking the video but I can detect a little shake!<\/p>\n

<\/lite-youtube><\/div><\/div>\n

The little male hummingbird was a great subject for my video. What wasn’t wonderful? Barking dogs, the sound of the trash truck moving through the neighborhood, and screaming kids.<\/p>\n

So, I removed the original sound from the video along with those distractions and replaced it with an audio file I created a few days ago using the Merlin app when it was quieter in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n

My video, my audio, my rules! Ha.<\/p>\n

I’m sure I’ll be sharing more photos, and possibly videos, of this charming young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird soon.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Ruby-throated Hummingbird photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’m really very excited to share photos and a video clip of a young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird that I focused on for quite some time yesterday morning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":134365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13950,27,15485,13951,5362],"tags":[15491,13965,4897,5767,13981,13931,6306,6043,2652,4067,4062,15492,4541,13964,4018,5875,2315,8018,2791,13966,4193],"class_list":["post-134377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arkansas","category-avian","category-ruby-throated-hummingbird","category-sebastian-county","category-video","tag-archilochus-colubris","tag-arkansas","tag-branch","tag-eye","tag-feeder","tag-garden","tag-head","tag-hummingbird","tag-hummingbirds-2","tag-immature","tag-male","tag-ruby-throated-hummingbird","tag-scratching","tag-sebastian-county","tag-sky","tag-staring","tag-summer-3","tag-urban","tag-video","tag-yard","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-young-scratching-mia-mcpherson-8298.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-yXn","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":134755,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/09\/19\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-hovering\/","url_meta":{"origin":134377,"position":0},"title":"Ruby-throated Hummingbird Hovering","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I'm sharing a simple hovering Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo. I took the image yesterday because I had a camera in my hand.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird hovering, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-hovering-mia-mcpherson-1869.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-hovering-mia-mcpherson-1869.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-hovering-mia-mcpherson-1869.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-hovering-mia-mcpherson-1869.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":134454,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/09\/13\/young-male-ruby-throated-hummingbird-in-rain\/","url_meta":{"origin":134377,"position":1},"title":"Young Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird In Rain","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"During a light rainstorm yesterday, I sat outside and photographed a young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird dodging raindrops. He sure seemed to enjoy the rain.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird and flying raindrops, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-young-male-rain-mia-mcpherson-0139.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-young-male-rain-mia-mcpherson-0139.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-young-male-rain-mia-mcpherson-0139.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-young-male-rain-mia-mcpherson-0139.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":150662,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/07\/23\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-on-a-foggy-morning\/","url_meta":{"origin":134377,"position":2},"title":"Ruby-throated Hummingbird Male On A Foggy Morning","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"It just dawned on me that I haven\u2019t shared a single Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo so far this season. The time to fix that is today.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Ruby-throated Hummingbird male on a foggy morning, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-foggy-mia-mpcherson1867.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-foggy-mia-mpcherson1867.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-foggy-mia-mpcherson1867.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-foggy-mia-mpcherson1867.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":131815,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/08\/05\/morning-male-ruby-throated-hummingbird\/","url_meta":{"origin":134377,"position":3},"title":"Morning Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird Drama","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Early yesterday morning, I had a handsome male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in my viewfinder. Suddenly, another hummingbird flew in, putting him on high alert.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in early morning, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-wings-up-mia-mcpherson-8869.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-wings-up-mia-mcpherson-8869.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-wings-up-mia-mcpherson-8869.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-wings-up-mia-mcpherson-8869.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":133418,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/08\/31\/male-ruby-throated-hummingbird-chirping\/","url_meta":{"origin":134377,"position":4},"title":"Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird Chirping","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 31, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago, I was happy to photograph an adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird chirping. The male was reacting to another hummingbird near 'his' feeder.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird chirping, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-chirping-mia-mcpherson-9507.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-chirping-mia-mcpherson-9507.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-chirping-mia-mcpherson-9507.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-male-chirping-mia-mcpherson-9507.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":131667,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/08\/01\/male-ruby-throated-hummingbird-in-my-viewfinder\/","url_meta":{"origin":134377,"position":5},"title":"Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird In My Viewfinder","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I finally have male Ruby-throated Hummingbird photos that I am happy with. It's about time, isn't it? He isn't a lifer; I've photographed this species before.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ruby-throated Hummingbird male in Arkansas, Sebastian County","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-8232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-8232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-8232.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ruby-throated-hummingbird-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-8232.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134377\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/134365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}