Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Ruby Throated Hummingbird
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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds
Archilochus colubris
Michigan Hummingbird is the teeny weeny, itsy bitsy, tinniest, miniaturist, pee wee of all birds. Yes, the Hummingbird is itty-bitty, minature tinny, littlest, smallish, pocket-sized, mico, mini of a birdie.
Small But F-a-s-t! I Do Mean Fast! –
The Hummingbird is fast. Hypersonic in fact. It’s a little speedball, can move like mad. It’s agile, brisk, quick and swift. It is to fast to see, just a blur if right in front of me. It’s a jiffy dot with wings, moving in a blink from place to place in nothing flat. Hummingbirds move at breakneck speed, are fast as lightening, dashing, flashing, quick as crazy. See this photo… Rudy Throated Hummingbird
The Hummer can zoom to and fro smooth as quick silver, faster than Sammy Davis, quiet as a mouse. It will zip, zip, zip from pedal to pedal, seeking what it may find. Nectar here, nectar there, from bloom to bloom; darting in and out.
The Hummingbird is faster than Gun-Smoke, quicker than Sun-Dance Kid. I draw my guns, point it to the tip of your nose, slap your face, and re-holster all before the word… “Draw.” Or, should I say, all before the letter “D” is pronounced.
Yes, I’m fast, faster than a speeding bullet, an 8 armed ocotups, a rat-trap, a blink, a wink, much quicker than a finger snap. I’m faster than Mohammad Ali, quicker than his fastest jab. He go “jab-jab”, I go… “buzz-saw” (1000 jabs to his one). Blistering quick, instantaneous fast, I’m double-quick, sudden-swift, the winged wonder of birds.
I might be small, but I’m faster than them all, that’s why “I am Legend”, and they call me “The Hummer.”
All About the Red Throated Hummingbird
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Michigan Wetland
Family: Trochilidae
Name: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Appearance: The Michigan Ruby Throated Hummingbird is a 4 inche bird with, green plumage, white under body, and red throat..
Adult: Color is metallic green, female is green without the red throat.
Flight Characteristics:
Quick blurry fast beats, smooth continual flaps when in flight. The Red Throated Hummingbird is a fast and swift flier, can abruptly change directions on a dime.
Habitat: The Hummer prefers of course small inland water reservoirs, lakes, ponds and wetlands, parks, and back yards.
Nesting: Hummingbirds will construct nest made of grasses and line with down. Nests are minarature deep pocked cups.
Incubates 2 whitish eggs for appx 13-16 days.
Mating Habits: The Common Mallards mate for extended periods.
Feeding: Uses its long beak and tongue to draw nectar from flowers.
Call: Sharp chip.
Migration: Travels a remarkable 500 miles to South America in late fall October.
Bird Conservation in Michigan
Michigan Bird Conservation Initiative
Department of Natural Resources
Check the Cornell University Department of Natural Resources for Attracting Hummingbirds to your yard., Learn More… Attracting Hummingbirds
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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds
Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds
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Birding Associations and Organizations
This Weeks Honorable Mention:
Michigan Audubon Society
Purpose: Michigan Audubon connects birds and people for the benefit of both through conservation, education, and research efforts in the state of Michigan. Read More Here… Michigan Audubon ORG
Nature Photography – by Ike Austin
Nature Photography that is Therapy for the Soul