Monday, December 15, 2008

Orange Sugar?


Although this photo is nothing special as far as photographic skill, it's the first time I've actually been able to get a reasonably clear photo of a hummingbird, so I'm showing it. And, I was able to hold the camera steady without a tripod. That's a feat for me!

The hummingbird is a male Anna's Hummingbird. Anna's Hummingbird lives year-round in this part of Arizona, but I don't see them a lot this time of year. They are territorial and aggressive during mating season. Surprisingly, they make a lot of noise for their tiny size, and they like to dive at other birds, and even people! One went after my husband when he was working on a trellis in the garden a few weeks ago.

These hummingbirds don't just stick to flower nectar. They also consume insects and spiders. I had always heard that hummingbirds seek out red flowers first, but I've since learned that they don't care about the flower color, it's the sugar content that attracts them. In my garden, they like the Tecoma stans 'Orange Jubilee', Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Red Bird of Paradise), and Calliandra californica (Baja Fairy Duster). They go for the flowers of these plants first before going to Tecomaria capensis (Cape Honeysuckle) or Justica californica (Chuparosa).

12 comments:

Claude said...

I love to watch the hummingbirds. We have the red-throated ones here, during the summer and especially in the fall when they're migrating south. They can be quite cantankerous. Somebody told me that they do go after red flowers, but they see infa-red coloration, which people don't see, so that flower may not look red to us, but it looks red to them!

Ashraf sharif said...

graet...beautiful photo to hummingbird ,i think this bird live in america only
thank you Aiyana

beckie said...

Aiyana, I think your hummingbird picture is fabulous! For the many,many of us who have tried in vain to do this-Way to go!

The 'orange jubilee is very pretty. That's a color we don't see here. Does it bloom year round?

I have seen the little hummers be very aggresive. Funny site when they challenge something 3 times or more their size. :}

Happy Holidays to you and all of yours!

verobirdie said...

Thank you for sharing this photo. It is a dream for me European ...

Pudgeduck said...

Your pic is great! I'm still trying to get a good picture -I see one every day around my orange jubilee.

kesslerdee said...

That is a wonderful picture! Birds are so hard to photograph- never staying in one spot long, but you did a really nice job! I love the Orange Jubilee- it has been on my list of plants I'd like to get going on my property. It seems to do really well in these parts!

Julie said...

Great pic!!! Fantastic. I am thinking of hanging a Hummingbird feeder outside my kitchen window and see what happens. People have told me they have seen them here, so we shall see!!! LOL.

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Aiyana I have to disagree with you here, sorry, I think it's a great pic. I am so envious of you having hummingbirds in the garden. I wish we had them over here too.

Lythrum said...

I love the picture, I haven't ever even attempted a hummingbird picture. I never have a camera when I spot one :)

WiseAcre said...

I'll disagree with you this time. That's a great shot.

Anonymous said...

Add me to the list of people who think this is an awesome pic.

Barbara said...

You did a good job Ayana, taking this picture of the hummingbird. It is so difficult to catch them at the right moment. I also tried it several times this summer but didn't succeed very well. I like your picture!