{"id":58856,"date":"2019-06-27T05:19:55","date_gmt":"2019-06-27T11:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=58856"},"modified":"2024-08-02T04:22:54","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T09:22:54","slug":"male-broad-tailed-hummingbird-defending-his-chokecherry-perch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/06\/27\/male-broad-tailed-hummingbird-defending-his-chokecherry-perch\/","title":{"rendered":"Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird Defending His Chokecherry Perch"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve mentioned that finding a hummingbird’s favorite perch is akin to striking gold for me as a bird photographer especially if the perch is in a area where I can pull over and photograph the birds safely.<\/p>\n

Because I can usually depend on them being there, I can determine the ideal time of the day to photograph them by calculating the best light angle. I also know I’ll be able to photograph lots of different behaviors and there is an increased chance of seeing and possibly photographing defensive or territorial behaviors.<\/p>\n

\"Broad-tailedBroad-tailed Hummingbird male on a Chokecherry tree branch – Nikon D500, f5.6, 1\/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

On June 20th I found and pointed out a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird using a Chokecherry tree branch as a perch. Since then I’ve seen the same branch being used repeatedly so for now I believe it is safe to say that this branch is its favorite perch.<\/p>\n

I love the rich, vibrant green that shows up in the background that is created by out of focus willows and grasses in the distance and how “clean” the view is of the hummingbird.<\/p>\n

In this photo the little male has flared his gorget out so much that it created a shadow on his neck and breast. At the time I took the image I could hear another hummingbird flying in the area and I think this hummingbird may have flashed his gorget at the other bird as a signal to stay away.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Broad-tailed Hummingbird landing on a Chokecherry branch – Nikon D500, f5.6, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

There is only one problem with this “favorite perch” and that is that there are two separate areas of the branch that the hummingbird likes to use so pre-focusing on one or the other spot leaves me with a only 50\/50 chance that the hummingbird will land on the section of the branch I pre-focused on.<\/p>\n

I beat the odds while taking this photo of the hummingbird landing because I’d pre-focused on the section of the branch it decided to land on. I wasn’t looking through my viewfinder when I took this image.<\/p>\n

I had focused on the branch, I was holding the camera as steady as I could and had positioned my head so that I had a clear view of the branch with my eyes and as soon as I heard the hummingbird come back towards his perch I started to fire a burst of shots. I’m happy to say the images of him landing came out sharp and beautiful using that method.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Broad-tailed Hummingbird defensive posture – Nikon D500, f5.6, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The other times I used the same method that day weren’t quite so successful but I really didn’t stay too long with this bird because the sun was already getting high.<\/p>\n

It was interesting to watch and photograph this little Broad-tailed Hummingbird<\/span><\/a> defend his favorite perch from the intruders I barely saw but could hear as they flew in and he flew out to chase them away.<\/p>\n

\"ChokecherryChokecherry in full bloom – Nikon D500, f10, 1\/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I was very happy that I took this image of a chokecherry in full bloom on the 20th of June because by the 24th most of the other chokecherry trees I saw had finished blooming and are now setting fruit.<\/p>\n

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

Mia<\/p>\n

To view more of my Broad-tailed Hummingbird photos plus facts and information about this species click here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was interesting to watch and photograph this little Broad-tailed Hummingbird defend his favorite perch from the intruders I barely saw but could hear as they flew in and he flew out to chase them away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":131710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27,2340,4594,5346,5345,26,773],"tags":[4004,4897,2651,6531,6561,6496,6043,2652,4062,6532,7282,2341,7281,6497],"class_list":["post-58856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-broad-tailed-hummingbirds","category-morgan-county","category-shrubs","category-trees","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-adult","tag-branch","tag-broad-tailed-hummingbird","tag-chokecherry","tag-favorite-perch","tag-flowering-tree","tag-hummingbird","tag-hummingbirds-2","tag-male","tag-prunus-virginiana","tag-prunus-virginiana-demissa","tag-selasphorus-platycercus","tag-western-chokecherry","tag-white-flowers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t