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Tom Grey | all galleries >> North American Birds by Type >> Hummingbirds >> Anna's Hummingbirds > Anna's Hummingbirds, mating
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08-FEB-2004 Tom Grey

Anna's Hummingbirds, mating

Stanford campus

Getting my two pictures of mating hummingbirds as a novice bird photographer was an amazing bit of luck. I went out for a walk around my neighborhood on a sunny Sunday afternoon in February, and decided to carry my camera. About a block from my house I heard the explosive sound made by the diving male Anna's wings, and noticed him completing his J-shaped display. He landed on top of a short tree in a neighbor's yard, and I noticed a sunlit female on a lower branch of the tree. I focused on her, and sure enough the male approached her for this elegant mounting. I managed to get this image and one other, http://www.pbase.com/image/25970016 , capturing their very brief copulation.

Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel ,Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
1/800s f/5.6 at 420.0mm iso200, 1.4x extender full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Debbie Giltner 22-Sep-2008 23:00
I live in Memphis, TN and Wed. Sept. 19 I saw my first mating of the hummingbird. I couldn't believe that I actually witnessed it. Nobody that I have asked has ever seen this. I feel honored. I was sooo excited. I should have gotten my camera but I was inside at my kitchen window. It happened on my feeder for several minutes and then it appeared that they either fell off or flew down toward the ground. I ran to my sunroom which was just 2 feet from where I saw them in the grass. They lay in the grass for about 4 minutes and then the male flew off and then in about 2 min. she flew away. I was concerned that it is so late in the season and was surprised that they were mating at this time of the year. They were definitely mating. I wondered how often people see this act.
Charlie King29-Dec-2007 18:25
Absolutely beautiful picture. Of course I love birds! :-) Thanks!
Brenda 26-Mar-2005 17:31
I've seen many hummers in person, engaged in courship, feeding, chasing, etc., but I've never seen them mate. This picture (and your other one) are truly incredible.
Thanks for sharing!