This little female waited for the controlling Rufus to be off fighting with her mate(?) to sneek in and get something to drink!
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I love those little fellows, our Eastern Spinebill hovers while eating nectar but very hard to get a good shot of them except when they sit still.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
I am curious about the size of your Eastern Spinebills. How do they compare to the Calliope, which is 7-8 cm. in length?
The Spinebills are about 15cm so about twice the size, but they look small to me.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Beautiful, P.Potter! I'm from the States originally and really enjoy seeing our native birds in your posts. By the way, do you know what sort of hummingbird would have a dark purple irridescent head? We were in Cali in April and I watched one bathing in the motel fountain. Couldn't find any info or photos online. :)
Well, I am no expert, but I think what you saw was a Costa's Hummingbird. The purple head is a dead give away!
Here is a link to Cornell that should be it:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Costas_Hummingbird/id
What a beautiful bird! Have seen them but never able to catch with the camera... darn.
Phil
Beautiful birds... Apparently the closest thing we have in Australia are the Olive Backed Sunbirds... But I don't know if they hover?
Looks like you are spot-on with the Costas' Hummingbird - thanks for doing the research for me! He was such a beautiful little thing, and of course I didn't have my camera. In Oregon we mostly get the green headed hummers.
I couldn't be happier to have helped! :)
We have Anna's Hummingbirds in California, which have a green head, but in Oregon... not sure! I don't have a guide handy.
Best Wishes,
Phil