Backyard Hummingbirds

Aug. 30: Young and Migrating Hummingbirds are here in Numbers

I've been spending time just sitting on my back porch. There are a number of hummingbirds who spend much of their day fighting over the many hummingbird feeders scattered around the back porch. Most of these hummingbirds are young males who are just beginning to grow out their colorful gorget feathers. But first, here is a reminder of what a colorful male Costa's Hummingbird looks like. I believe he is the only adult Costa's in my yard at this moment. He seems to be avoiding all of the hullabaloo that the younger males are involved in.

One of the immature males spent time returning to a perch on a lady slipper plant. Although he does have gorget feathers on his neck, there are just a few on the sides of his neck. Here is a reminder of what makes a hummingbird's gorget so special: https://tinyurl.com/WhatIsAGorget

It was impossible to keep track of where all of the flying birds went while chasing each other. Still, the bird below sure looks like the same bird pictured above, don't you think?

Another immature male Costa's shows us a bit of purple on his head. Birdnote shares a story about Costa's Hummingbirds: https://www.birdnote.org/listen/shows/decibels-gram

Finally, a Costa's Hummingbird settled in to another perch spot with his eyes always monitoring the feeders. Tucson Audubon has a short piece on these Southwestern specialty birds: https://tucsonaudubon.org/bird_profile/costas-hummingbird/

The second species of hummingbirds in the backyard are Broad-billed Hummingbirds. The male Broad-bills are perhaps the most brilliant male hummingbirds in the US.

The feathers of the Broad-billed Hummingbird appear black until the sunlight hits them just right. Then, as Cornell says on their allaboutbirds web page, "The male's vivid red bill, emerald body, and glittering sapphire throat sets it apart from other US hummingbirds." The bird below looks like an adult male who is growing in some new feathers. You can see the white "pin-feathers" on its chin. The feather barbs will unfurl from those white shafts to reveal the beautiful colors within days.

Here are some of the immature male Broad-billed Hummingbirds. I have a good friend who describes the birds at this stage as birds who "are fixing to become a man."

In flight, the Broad-bills look to be very tall.

Broad-billed Hummingbirds are yet another Mexican species that just makes it into the US in southeastern Arizona. Tucson Audubon shares a bit more: https://tinyurl.com/Broad-bill

FYI, one of the reasons I haven't sent a photo email for a while is also the same reason today's email features hummingbirds from my back porch. I had full knee replacement surgery eleven days ago. I haven't been out and around much lately and likely will not be out shooting birds and nature in other settings for a short while. I can make it out to the porch and that has been rewarding. That is the reason for this email's focus! I do have quite a few photos I've taken over the past months that I have yet to share. As I become more comfortable sitting at the computer for a longer period, I plan to share those photos. I am doing fine and Shelly is taking good care of me. I am very much looking forward to the end result of the rehab road ahead of me. It is a process and I appreciate your good wishes.