Costa's Hummingbird

Gallery: AvianPosted December 6, 2009135 views10 comments

My first venture into the field after many months, well, at least into my back yard outside of Tucson, AZ, netted this photo of a male Costa's Hummingbird. Fitting since my best post so far in the past was also of a male Costa's.

He is sitting on the knob of a staff holding a nectar feeder he defends against all other hummers. In fact, he is so busy defending his feeder he doesn't have much time to feed himself.

I shot this with my lighter weight back-up gear and in JPEG mode rather than RAW which eliminated some flexibility in dealing with some of the photo's flaws. The background white area is a fence and is unfortunate and the contrast in his plumage could have been handled better too.

I appreciate your comments and suggestions!

Canon 40D, 55-250MM IS @ 250mm, 1/100 @ f/5.6, ISO 400

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 6, 2009 at 10:56 PM

Neat composition, Hans. You already mentioned the nits. I like the pose and eye contact.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on December 6, 2009 at 11:08 PM

Superb color and detail! Simply MAGNIFICENT, Hans!

Registered on August 4, 2009, 149 Posts, 889 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 7, 2009 at 8:18 AM

nice catchlight, and you got the gorget nicely lit up. you've mentioned the nits, it looks like a step to the left could have moved the white fence off the bird.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on December 7, 2009 at 10:34 AM

I love your feather details and the glisten in the purple. That's hard to capture. If you had to have that white fence in the background I think it is better right behind the body rather than to the side and behind the bill. I only find it slightly distracting. Makes me feel warm inside when its cold outside seeing this little guy.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 7, 2009 at 12:05 PM

Hans, it is just good to see you out and about again! I like the pose and colours you've captured here.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 7, 2009 at 2:52 PM

Great to see a post from you Hans. The bird is great, nits mentioned. I hope you can shoot and post more often. Cheers

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on December 7, 2009 at 7:50 PM

The bird is great, Hans. Would suggest cropping from the top to eliminate that "T" in the background.

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 8, 2009 at 12:50 PM

Very nice shot. I do like the suggestion of cropping to get the white 'T' out of the top of the frame but otherwise the white fence does not bother me, it actually helps the head stand out more. I also started seeing some Costa's about a month ago at my feeder, however an Anna runs everybody away from our feeder.
Well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 8, 2009 at 3:02 PM

Great pose Hans, love the light in the bird's eye and the iridescence. The fence in the background is unfortunate, but it doesn't pul my eyes away from the bird.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 8, 2009 at 8:41 PM

Hi Hans and it's very good to see you here again.

The bird is lovely and the gorget spectacular. I too might consider cropping out the top of the "T".

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments