shot yesterday…

CJ's Desert Dwellers: Broad-billed Hummingbird Cyanthus latirostris

Same information as other Broad-Billed Hummingbird post.

Family: Trochilidae

Smallest birds on the planet with long bills designed for sipping nectar. They also eat small insects and spiders.

Size: 8-10 cm (3.25-4")
Range: SW US to Southern Mexico. It rarely winters in Arizona, but, this is one of several (of his species) who've been over-wintering for years.

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Male (pictured) is dark green above and below with a blue throat. The bill is bright red with a black tip. From a distance, he may appear to be all black. Females identified by a combination of the red bill and pearly unmarked throat and thin white line behind the eye.


Camera: Canon 400D Digital Rebel XTi, Canon Lens EF 300 mm 1:4 L IS, hoya 77mm HMC UV[O]
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/320 seconds

That's a great shot. DOF is about perfect. Shame about the bottom branches but adds to the shot too.

Can't wait for the hummers to arrive in spring.

Your 300mm is coming in handy. Are you happy with the performance with the 1.4x? I see that you didn't use/need it for this shot.

Beautiful. Makes me think of spring and get all warm inside. Didn't realize they were so small, you must have been on top of it.

OMG, that hummer is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Superb in every way :)

Thanks, everybody!!

Extender: I like it and use it a lot. If it is midday, bright sun, it is installed without thinking. There are a couple drawbacks, though. When I'm shooting small birds and a roadrunner comes on the scene, I can only get a 'head shot' (wow, tragedy…how do I cope?!?!!?).

Okay real drawback: the obvious f stop loss. Very evident in low light situations. I find the grain created unacceptable and end up removing the extender and moving closer. (I'm saving for another lens and I'm saving the extra $ for the faster one.)

Proximity to subject: Yes, I was right on top of him. As close as the camera would allow and still achieve focus. This particular guy knows me well. He will buzz me or the window if he feels his feeder is insufficient in some fashion. They will buzz past using your body as a foil in their escape or pursuit from/of another hummer. The hummingbirds are so accustomed to me/us/guests that when guests are here, I have to ask them to not wave their hands so much in excitement so as not to hit the birds.

OMG, that hummer is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll second that! GREAT shot!