Anna’s Hummingbird

This hummingbird was photographed at the Edmonds Marsh in Edmonds Washington. The Edmonds Marsh is one of the few urban saltwater estuaries remaining in the Puget Sound area. While at the marsh I was amazed to watch a hummingbird perform the courtship display. For those who have not witness this, it starts when the male climbs up, up, and almost out of sight and then  swoop to the ground with a burst of noise as if they had broken the sound barrier. The noise that they produce is cause by their tail feathers as they make their  descent back toward the ground. This display is thrilling and captivating not only to potential mates but also to any bird watcher that is watching the exhibition.

Hummingbirds are part of the Trochilidae family and are among the smallest birds. This Hummingbird is an Anna’s Hummingbird, which measures from about 10 to 11 centimeters long. Hummingbirds produce a humming sound when they beat their wings, which is close in sound to insects and bees. It has been stated that they can fly at speed upwards of 34 miles per hour. They also have the ability that other birds do not have which is to fly backwards.

Anna’s Hummingbird is a common sight in the Pacific Coast, however there iridescent colors are far beyond being common. The adult males have an iridescent crimson-red crown and throat. Females and juveniles have a green crown, a grey throat with some red markings, a grey chest and belly. These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long tongue and also feed on small insects caught during flight.

EXIF Data

Aperture – ƒ/6.3
Camera – NIKON D800
Date Created – 2013:09:07 09:45
Focal length – 500mm
ISO – 100
Exposure Time – 1/100