Fiery-throated Hummingbird at Paraiso del Quetzal

[Ely Teehankee]

The Hummingbirds are a magnificent bird to see and photograph. Carlos, my bird guide from Dantica brought me to Paraiso del Quetzal where I spent one afternoon specifically to photograph the Fiery-throated Hummingbird. There were some other kinds that I was able to photograph but I would choose the fiery one whenever I would see it. Just to refresh your memory here are some of the characteristics of a hummingbird.

Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world.
For their size, hummingbirds have the largest heart and brain of all animals.
Hummingbirds have no sense or smell.
Hummingbird wings beat around 60 times per second
Hummingbird hearts beat from 500 to 1,200 times per minute
Hummingbirds are only found in North, Central & South America
Hummingbirds visit 2,000 to 5,000 flowers a day
Hummingbirds can consume twice their weight daily
Their color is produced by refraction of light, not by pigment
Their average speed is 45 miles per hour
Their tongues are twice the length of their bills
In addition to nectar, hummingbirds eat insects for protein
Hummingbirds cannot walk, only perch
Hummingbirds fly only 20% of the time
Hummingbirds are notorious for their ability to rotate the entire wing at the shoulders, permitting stationary hovering and even backwards flight, the latter of which is a skill exclusive to hummingbirds.



Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 300mm
f/2.8L IS USM. Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.



The Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignia) is 4 inches (10 cm) in length. It is endemic to Costa Rica & Western Panama.
1/2000 sec., f/2.8, ISO 1600




This Green-fronted Lancebill (Doryfera ludovicae) 5 inches (13 cm) happened to perch near me so I also took his picture.
1/6400 sec., f/2.8, ISO 1600




It may appear that the Hummingbirds have different colors but this is caused by the angle of the light illuminating on the bird that makes the color changes.
1/1000 sec., f/3.2, ISO 1600




This picture was the closest I got to the Fiery-throated Hummingbird at 2.58 meters. I noticed that the feathers are shape like a scallop shell and they all glitter in the sunlight.
1/2500 sec., f/3.2, ISO 1600




The Green Violet-ear (Colibri thalassinus) 4 inches (10 cm) in length is one of the common Hummingbirds that one would see in San Gerardo de Dota.
1/3200 sec., f/3.2, ISO 1600




Depending on the angle of the light shining on the feathers of the
Fiery-throated Hummingbird, the colors would differ with each variation.
1/640sec., f/3.2, ISO 1600




I was not able to get the right angle where the throat would really get red.
1/1000sec., f/3.2, ISO 1600




I guess this picture would be the closest I got to show the Fiery-throated Hummingbird.
1/1000sec., f/3.2, ISO 1600




The Volcano Hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula) 3 inches (8 cm)is a very small hummingbird which breeds only in the mountains of Costa Rica and Chiriqui, Panama. This one is Male.
1/5000sec., f/3.5, ISO 1600




Another opportunity for me, to take the picture of this Green-fronted Lancebill (Doryfera ludovicae).
1/1600sec., f/3.5, ISO 1600

[Ely Teehankee]

My former grade & high school classmate Cito Vinluan who is the Valedictorian of our class furnished me more information about the Hummingbird. I find them very informative and I am happy to share this information with you.

Hummingbird Anatomy

Hummingbird anatomy is different than any other bird in the world; however, there are also quite a few similarities. Let's look at each part of a hummingbird's anatomy one part at a time.


Back: The back is the top of the hummingbird's body between the wings.
Beak or Bill: The beak or bill on a hummingbird is longer in proportion to their body than other birds. This is so they can reach deep down into a tubular flower to get the nectar. A hummingbird's beak is not hollow. They do not sip nectar up like a straw. The beak or bill has an upper and lower portion, much like any other bird. Both the upper and lower beak is covered in a substance called rhamphotheca. This sheath is made of a keratin like material much like your fingernails. The top of the beak, called the maxilla, overlaps the lower beak slightly. The lower beak is also slightly flexible and can widen and bend lightly downward as the hummingbirds open their mouths. Hummingbirds have a joint in the upper jaw, just behind the maxilla. This joint enables the maxilla to bend back toward the head slightly as the hummingbirds open their mouths. When a hummingbird is less than one year of age, the maxilla is rough with corrugations along the sides and edges. Hummingbirds older than one year of age have smoother sides and edges. A few adult hummingbirds will have some minor corrugations throughout their lifetimes.

Belly: This is the soft portion of the hummingbird on the underside, just below the wings that hold all of the hummingbird's internal organs.

Bones: In order to be as lightweight as possible, most of the hummingbird's bones are extremely porous. Some hummingbird bones, like those in the wings and legs, are hollow to save even more weight.

Brain: A hummingbird's brain is approximately 4.2% of its body weight, the largest proportion in the bird kingdom. Hummingbirds are very smart and they can remember every flower they have been to, and how long it will take a flower to refill.

Breast: The breast of a hummingbird is located just below the chin and wings. This area is firmer than the belly because of the rib bones underneath.

Cloaca: The area where liquid and solid waste mix and are expelled. Eggs and sperm are also released from the body at this location.

Crop: The crop is a holding sac with a very thin wall that holds food and nectar to be digested. After filling the crop, a hummingbird will rest while the crop empties itself into the digestive system.

Crown: The crown is located on the very top of head above forehead.
Back to Top
Duodenum: The duodenum is where the food is chemically digested.
Back to Top
Ears: A hummingbird has two ears located on each side of the hummingbird's head. A hummingbird can hear better and easily decipher small fluctuations of tones better than most humans.
Back to Top
Erythrocytes: Erythrocytes are the red blood cells in a hummingbird's blood. Hummingbirds have the greatest concentration of erythrocytes than any other animal in the animal kingdom.
Back to Top
Esophagus: The esophagus on a hummingbird goes from the hummingbird's mouth to the crop. When a hummingbird eats or drinks, the food is transferred to the crop through the esophagus.
Back to Top
Eyelids: Hummingbirds have regular eyelids to block light from each eye. Hummingbirds also have a third eyelid call a Nictitating Membrane that is clear and will protect the hummingbird's eyes while flying.
Back to Top
Eyes: Hummingbirds have very large eyes in proportion to their body weight. The eyes are set on the side of the head allowing the hummingbird to see both ahead (binocular vision) and on the side peripherally (monocular vision). The eyes are protected by twelve (12) or more bones surrounding it called ossicles. Hummingbirds have many more rods and cones than humans in their eyes to help them see well. This makes them better able to see colors and ultraviolet light. Hummingbird's eyes will regularly outweigh a hummingbird's brain.
Back to Top
Feathers: Some feathers on a hummingbird hold bright radiant color. This coloring comes from iridescent coloring like on a soap bubble or prism and requires sunlight to show these colors off. An average sized hummingbird will have about 940 feathers. This is more feathers per square inch of their body than any other bird in the animal kingdom.
Back to Top
Feet: Hummingbird's feet are not for walking. Hummingbirds do not use their feet for launching upward in flight. They let their wings do all of this work. Hummingbirds use their feet for scratching and perching. They will perch for most of their lives. Hummingbirds have four (4) toes. Three (3) toes in the front and one (1) toe, also called the hallux in the back of the foot. The hallux works much the same way a human's thumb does and allows the hummingbird to hang on to a branch or wire.
Back to Top
Female Gonads: The female gonad is the female reproductive system. These organs shrink during non-breeding months to make the hummingbird lighter for flight. Female hummingbirds are born with two ovaries. The right ovary will disappear soon after birth to lighten the hummingbird's body weight, leaving the left one fully functional. During breeding season, several ova mature in the ovary and produce a yolk. Yolks are expelled into the oviduct. The yolks that are fertilized continue down the oviduct to the albumen gland. The albumen gland secretes a protein-rich substance called the egg white. The yolk and egg-white together will then continue down the oviduct to the shell gland where it receives a shell membrane that is made up of mostly calcium. The egg will leave the cloacal opening into the nest. All unfertilized ova are reabsorbed by the body.
Back to Top
Flanks: The flanks are the sides of the hummingbird's body underneath and behind the wings.
Back to Top
Forehead: The forehead is located on the top of the hummingbird's head between the eyes.
Back to Top
Furchula: The furchula is also known as the wish bone.
Back to Top
Gizzard: The gizzard is the stomach of a hummingbird. This is where food is digested.
Back to Top
Gorget: A gorget is the neck area of a hummingbird. Male hummingbird's gorget usually has many bright colors to attract female hummingbirds.
Back to Top
Heart: A hummingbird's heart is a relatively large organ in comparison to a hummingbird's body weight. It makes up 1.75% to 2.5% (depending on the type or species of hummingbird) of the hummingbird's total weight. This makes the hummingbird's heart relativity the largest heart in the animal kingdom. A hummingbird's heart beats about 250 beats per minute at rest and about 1,260 beats per minutes while flying.
Back to Top
Kidneys: The kidneys are an internal organ where liquid waste is separated from food creating urine.
Back to Top
Large Intestine: The Large Intestine is part of the digestive track. This is where water is re-adsorbed into the body and waste is held.
Back to Top
Legs: Hummingbird legs are extremely small, short, and stubby to reduce weight. They are also quite weak. Because of this, hummingbirds do not hop like other birds.
Back to Top

Liver: The liver is a very important internal organ for a hummingbird. This is where fats are stored for quick release. Hummingbirds need these fats for migration as well as day-to-day survival.
Back to Top
Lungs: Hummingbird lungs are highly efficient for both breathing and taking in air to cool off their hot bodies. A hummingbird will breathe on average 250 times per minute. A hummingbird has two lungs. The lung's job is to transfer oxygen to the hummingbird's blood stream.
Back to Top
Lymph Plasma: Lymph Plasma is a liquid substance that contains antibodies and disease-fighting agents. Lymph Plasma is carried through the lymphatic system and into a hummingbird's blood stream.
Back to Top
Male Gonads: The male gonad is the male reproductive system. These organs shrink during non-breeding months to make the hummingbird lighter for flight. The male gonad contains testis that produce sperm. Sperm flows though the vas-deferens to the cloaca. Before mating with a female, the cloaca will swell becoming a cloacal protuberance. The male will touch the tip of the cloacal protuberance to the cloaca of the female to transfer sperm.
Back to Top
Neck Vertebrae: These are the bones that hold a hummingbird's head. Many types or species of hummingbirds have fourteen (14) or fifteen (15) neck vertebrae. Most mammals have only seven (7) neck vertebrae.
Back to Top
Nostrils: Hummingbird nostrils are located at the base of the beak. This is where air enters into the lungs bringing rich oxygen to the blood stream. Hummingbirds have no sense of smell.
Back to Top
Pectorialis Majors: These are the two (2) large flight muscles on a hummingbird. They are entirely of red fiber for sustained use unlike the white fiber that is found in other birds using them for short-term energy bursts.
Back to Top
Primary Feathers: A hummingbird's primary feathers are the long feathers on hummingbird's wings used for flight. Hummingbirds have ten (10) primary feathers on each wing. Each primary feather is called a remige and is numbered one (1) through ten (10). Remige one (1) starts at the bottom of the wing with remige ten (10) at the top of the wing.
Back to Top
Ribs: The ribs in a hummingbird work very much like a person's ribs. They work together to form a cage to protect a hummingbird's lung and heart. Depending on the type or species of hummingbird, they usually have eight (8) pair of ribs. Most other birds only have six (6) pair of ribs.
Back to Top
Rump: A hummingbird's rump is also called a hummingbird's bottom. This is the bottom portion of the hummingbird were the tail feather come out.
Back to Top
Secondary Feathers: A hummingbird's secondary feathers are longer than regular feathers, but shorter than the primary feathers. A hummingbird has six (6) secondary feathers. Each feather is numbered one (1) through six (6) starting on the bottom of the wing.
Back to Top
Small Intestine: The small intestine is the internal organ in the digestive system where nutrients are absorbed into the body on their way to the large intestine.
Back to Top
Sternum: The sternum is also called the keel or breastbone. This is where the ribs and the pectoral muscles that help with flight are attached. The sternum in a hummingbird is relatively longer than in most birds.
Back to Top
Supracoracoideus Muscles: The supracoracoideus muscles work with the pectorialis majors for flight. These, like the pectorialis majors, are also large muscles made entirely of red fiber for sustained. Other bird's muscles are made up of white fiber used only for short-term energy bursts.
Back to Top
Tail Feathers: A Hummingbird has ten (10) tail feathers. These tail feathers are called retrices and are divided into five (5) tail feathers per side. The tail feathers are numbered from the inside out with retrix one (1) being the two tail feathers in the center and retrix five (5) being each tail feather on the outside.
Back to Top
Temperature: A hummingbird's normal body temperature runs right around one hundred five (105) degrees Fahrenheit. When a hummingbird sleeps, this temperature will drop to as low as seventy (70) degrees Fahrenheit.
Back to Top
Tongue: The tongue on a hummingbird is very long. It is grooved like the shape of a "W". On the tip of the tongue are brushy hairs that help lap up nectar from a flower. A hummingbird can lap up nectar at a rate of about thirteen (13) licks per second. Hummingbirds have only a few taste buds on the tongue. Hummingbirds can taste just enough to know what is good and what is bad. They can also taste what too sweet, not sweet enough, or just right.
Back to Top
Under Tail Coverts: Under tail coverts are the tiny feathers that are underneath the tail feathers.
Back to Top
Upper Tail Coverts: Upper tail coverts are the tiny feathers that are just above the tail feathers.
Back to Top
Upper Wing Coverts: Upper wing covers are the little feathers on the top part of wings that lead into the primary and secondary feathers.
Back to Top
Ureter: The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the cloaca.
Back to Top
Uropygial Gland: The uropygial gland is a gland in the skin located near the tail feathers that secrets oil. This oil is use to protect the hummingbird's feathers. A hummingbird will take great care to preen this oil into every feather on their body.
Back to Top
Wings: A hummingbird's wings are unlike any other bird's wings. They allow a hummingbird fly forward, backward, hover, and even fly upside-down for a short period of time. Hummingbirds are the only birds in the world that can fly like this. A hummingbird can perform these feats of acrobatics for several reasons. First of all their shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint that allows the hummingbird to rotate their wings one hundred eighty (180) degrees in all directions. Hummingbird wings with beat about seventy (70) times per second while in regular flight and up to 200 times per second when diving. (Smaller hummingbird's wings beat about thirty-eight (38) to about seventy-eight (78) times a second while larger ones beat their wings about eighteen (18) to twenty-eight (28) times per second.) Hummingbirds don't flap their wings, they rotate them. When hummingbirds fly, they move their wings in an oval pattern, except when they are hovering. When they are hovering they will move their wings in a figure-eight motion. A hummingbird can fly at an average speed of twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) miles per hour, and dive at a speed of up to sixty (60) miles per hour. When hummingbirds fly, they fly upright, facing the world, not flat like most birds.
Back to Top
Note: Hummingbirds are missing a few parts that other birds and mammals have. These include a bladder, a gall bladder, a penis in the males, and a right ovary in the females. It is believed that this is due to the hummingbird's size. In order to have enough room for the vital organs, the hummingbird deleted a few duplicate organs to save space. This is just another remarkable feature of Hummingbird Anatomy.
Back to Top

[Burr Patterson, Jr.]

Very Nice, WoW

[Ely Teehankee]

Jul 21, 2012 23:42:00 GMT Burr Patterson, Jr. said:

Very Nice, WoW

Thank you Burr. The Hummingbirds are such a delight to see and to photograph. They are capable of flying up to 60 mph when they are diving so you can imagine how fast they come and go.

[Ariel Matias]

Impressive details on all photos, Ely. The one that shows the color of the throat stands out as it is not easy to capture.

I went to San Gerardo last week and spent some time at Restaurante Miriam. They told me that you sent them pictures of the birds you took from their place and they are very thankful. While I was having my breakfast, a Tico guide told me that there is a young quetzal that was rescued and is being taken care by the staff of Paraiso del Quetzal lodge. I passed-by their place and was able to see a beautiful juvenile female quetzal that is not afraid of humans. I also met Carlos there by chance.

I will be posting it soon.

Regards.

[Ely Teehankee]

Jul 22, 2012 17:28:57 GMT Ariel Matias said:

Impressive details on all photos, Ely. The one that shows the color of the throat stands out as it is not easy to capture.

I went to San Gerardo last week and spent some time at Restaurante Miriam. They told me that you sent them pictures of the birds you took from their place and they are very thankful. While I was having my breakfast, a Tico guide told me that there is a young quetzal that was rescued and is being taken care by the staff of Paraiso del Quetzal lodge. I passed-by their place and was able to see a beautiful juvenile female quetzal that is not afraid of humans. I also met Carlos there by chance.

I will be posting it soon.

Regards.

Thank you Ariel. Do you think they will release it once it becomes strong? I am looking forward to see your pictures of the Quetzal.

[Paul Guerrero]

The level of detail in your photographs is unbelievable! Amazing!

[Ely Teehankee]

Aug 2, 2012 9:32:42 GMT Paul Guerrero said:

The level of detail in your photographs is unbelievable! Amazing!

Thank you Paul. I sometimes am amaze at how gorgeous these birds can be. Only God can make thousands of birds that look different from one another.