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Sandy S's avatar

The series of photos showing the change in color of the ruby throat are jaw dropping! Thank you Sydney!!!

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SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

Thanks so much, Sandy! That was one of my favorite discoveries, something I never would have expected, but happened to catch in photos!

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cindy smith's avatar

Beautiful piece on one of the most spectacular creatures on earth, Hummingbirds!! 😍🥰 Yes, I've had a pair skim the top of my hair at a riparian preserve.

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SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

Thanks so much, Cindy! How fun, I can just imagine being buzzed by a hummingbird 💕 I always find myself holding my breath when I’m sitting outside and they come right up to the feeder - they’re just so stunning, I forget to breathe 🤣

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Noel's avatar

A documentary I saw once showed that when flowers are scarce, hummingbirds will catch insects in midair! They open their beaks wide and "scoop" them up with amazing precision.

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SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

That’s amazing, Noel, I had never heard that before!

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Grace Drigo's avatar

It is rare for me to see a hummingbird so I always get very excited when it does happen. How can you tell the females apart from the males? Gorgeous photos. 💚

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SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

I see them often, and I still get very excited! 😂 Great question - for the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, you can tell pretty consistently by the plumage because they maintain the same plumage year-round. Males have those dark feathers on their throat which flash red in the right light, while females have completely pale undersides. In this essay, the first image is a female, and the second is a male. Wishing you many more hummingbird encounters!

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Beth T (BethOfAus)'s avatar

Happy sigh. Absolutely exquisite. I saw a video on Tumblr where one of these cuties was trying to sip through the little air vent holes in a bright red cap, and when it had no luck it sat on the cap’s brim and cocked its head trying to work out what was wrong with this daft flower!

And thanks so much for the photos explaining its Ruby-throated name. Stunning! Happy sigh.

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SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

Thanks so much, Beth! That's hilarious, I can definitely imagine that very diligent hummingbird, just exasperated by an uncooperative flower 🤣 They are so special. 🤗

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Mohika Mudgal's avatar

Always an absolute pleasure reading your work and viewing your photography!

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SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

Thank you so much, Mohika!💚

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Ian Haycroft's avatar

Beautiful as always Sydney. Thank you for sharing the love.

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SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

Thanks so much, Ian! They’re such wonderful creatures :)

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