Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Vickie Emms

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Featured in Canon DSLR – May 31, 2009
Featured in I Love Birds – May 27, 2009

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris is the most common and widely distributed of the hummingbirds in Canada. From the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail it measures from 7.5 cm to slightly more than 9 cm. No larger than a good-sized insect, it is often confused with hawk moths, especially at dusk, as these moths are similar in size, form, and flight.

The male Ruby-throated Hummingbird is shiny metallic green above, greyish white below, and has a forked tail. He wears a splendid gorget, or throat patch, of silky, ruby red feathers, which sometimes appear orange, or even jet black, depending on the light. The female is similar but has a greyish-white throat patch. Her tail is rounded, and some of the outer tail feathers are marked with white spots. These she often displays when posturing and in flight. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird’s bill is long, straight, and almost as slender as a darning needle.
Canada has five species of hummingbirds. Of these, only the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is found in the east. It inhabits Nova Scotia (including Cape Breton Island), New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, southern Quebec, and Ontario north to Lake Nipigon and Lake of the Woods. It ranges westward through southern Manitoba, central Saskatchewan, and central and southeastern Alberta.
Lots more interesting information here:


Photographed at the Oriole feeder in my yard
Canon 50D; Sigma 150-500mm lens
Shutter speed 1/2048
Lens Aperture F/6.4
Focal length 500mm
Exposure time 1/2000
ISO 640

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird belongs to the following groups:

!$ I LOVE BIRDS !, All Animals Great And Small., Birds and Creatures of Flight, Canon DSLR (One Image Per Day & A Canon Camera Must Be In The Description Before It's Accepted), For the love of Canon - 2 Images per day with type of Canon camera used, Miniatures and Mammoths, Nature's Wonders, Rural Around The Globe, The Birds and Vibrant and Vivid Color Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird by Vickie Emms
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird by Vickie Emms
  • Blair Wainman

    Blair Wainman

    Perfect!!!! Congratulations Vickie!! It doesn’t get better than this!!! Well done and instant favorite!!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you Blair, I was hoping you would notice. this is another I took this morning, the one I had planned on is in the wings for another day, it’s good too (I think), so I had to make a choice. I like how he hit the hole in the feeder here :-)) thanks also for the fav

  • David Friederich

    David Friederich

    I love hummers, and this is a great shot, Vickie, accompanied by your usual wonderful descriptions and information.

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you very much for your important comment David, glad you like this one

  • Teresa Zieba

    Teresa Zieba

    Wow, beautiful hon. Did you get him today?

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you hon. Yes this was this morning just before you called me. I was trying to get him fighting with the Oriole over the food, lol. I have another from another day, will upload another time. My dream is to get one in flight, no objects around.

  • Bluenorther

    Bluenorther

    Wonderful capture here Just Perfect Sis. It doesn’t get any better than this! An instant fav for me Hugs XXX Leslie

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thanks so much hon,,,,,,,,,,,and for the fav, your comments always make be happy :-))) xoxox

  • LudaNayvelt

    LudaNayvelt

    wow, perfect!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you very much Luda

  • dougie1

    dougie1

    excellent!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thanks much Dougs

  • Kelly Robinson

    Kelly Robinson

    Stunning capture and OMG I need a 500mm lens

  • Vickie Emms replied

    awww,,,,,well I cried long enough till I got mine around Christmas time, I am going to enjoy it this summer that’s for sure, been practicing lots,,,,,,,,,,thanks very much Kelly for stopping by

  • PFrogg

    PFrogg

    Great shot Vickie well done

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you very much John,,,,,,,,

  • Mindy McGregor

    Mindy McGregor

    Wow Vickie, this is just fabulous! Great capture!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you Mindy, very much

  • Lolabud

    Lolabud

    Beautiful shot Vickie. Ruby throated hummers are the only variety we see around here. I’ve seen a few this year so far, but not a lot. I’m waiting patiently for our regulars. They are a challenge, but fun to shoot (photographically that is :-)

  • Vickie Emms replied

    yes they are fun, specially when they are arguing with the Orioles over whose feeder it is, lol…...we only get the Ruby’s too here in Manitoba, but they are so tiny and cute. thanks for your visit

  • weskats

    weskats

    500nn lens,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,gosh am I envious!!...Great shot hon! Talk soon and after ya get back.

  • Vickie Emms replied

    I was going to say,,,,mm, lol…....anyway I tried to get into MSN tonight, it signed me out and I can’t get signed in again. I here messenger 2009 is causing other problems and I wanted to check and see if I could figure something out,,,,,,,,,I will try early tomorrow OK,,,,,,,,,,,thanks for your visit, we will talk before I leave

  • weskats

    weskats

    oooooooops 500mm…......duhh…lol

  • BigD

    BigD

    Great job with the camera settings, Vickie

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thanks very much BigD….much appreciated

  • Sunflwrconcepts

    Sunflwrconcepts

    Amazing capture…perfect timing!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you so much

  • John  Kowalski

    John Kowalski

    Lucky you to be visited by thid gorgeous creature Vickie! lovely capture!!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you John, yes we have a huge variety of birds this spring, I am having a ball getting their photos…......glad you like this little guy, thanks for stopping in

  • janfoster

    janfoster

    OH wow great capture Vickie : )

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you very much Jan

  • jesika

    jesika

    A little beauty, Vickie, great shot.
    When do you leave? We go on Sunday hunting Silver Studded Blue Butterflies, the Red Kite (can’t miss!) a few days at the coast for Girlies, and anything else that we stumble across…
    Look forward to your wonderful pictures.
    jx

  • Vickie Emms replied

    Thanks so much my friend, you have a great time, I will look forward to your butterflies for sure. I leave June 9 for 5 weeks. Will miss you

  • FlowersEtc
  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you so very much, I am totally thrilled :-))

  • walela

    walela

    Amazing tiny bird!!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you – yes they are beautiful little creatures

  • PrairieRose

    PrairieRose

    Oh yeah!! SO PERFECT !! :)))))

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thanks so much my dear Rosie :-))

  • Lucindawind

    Lucindawind

    wow fabulous ..perfect capture x

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thanks so much Elaine :-))

  • Waleska Luker

    Waleska Luker

    sweet capture

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you so much

  • David Clarke

    David Clarke

    Stunning shot, Vickie, wonderful. Congratulations on the feature!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you David, much appreciated

  • Pat Moore

    Pat Moore

    Vickie this is a magnificent capture of the hummer!!!!!!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thanks very much Pat

  • Leslie  Battjes

    Leslie Battjes

    What wonderful timing…this shot is excellent and definitely needs to be add to the Hummingbirds of the World group

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thanks very much hon, I will do that, I was in that group then found I had nothing I liked, now I do :-))

  • Larry Llewellyn

    Larry Llewellyn

    amazing!

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you so much Larry

  • BigD
  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you so very much BigD, wow I am so happy for that

  • Bluenorther

    Bluenorther

    CONGRATULATIONS Sis. This capture was so amazing it truly deserved these features. Wooo-Hoo. I’m so happy for you. Huggs Leslie

  • Vickie Emms replied

    thank you sis,,,,,,,,,,your comments are always special

  • Kasia-D

    Kasia-D

    What an amazing capture. So well-timed. I tried a few in a hotel in Arizona but the wee chaps were far to quick for me. But I didn’t have the Oriole feeder and your patience.

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