Hummingbirds (continued and end)

Finally, but perhaps it should have started there, its plumage.
Ah! Its plumage… The hummingbird has only about a thousand feathers, very few compared to other bird species (for example, 25,000 for the swan).
Some have iridescent patches that will reflect metallic colors if the sun’s rays hit them.
The color of an individual can therefore vary from one second to the next depending on the lighting.
By mimicry, the color sometimes resembles the nourishing flowers, especially the throat or the top of the head.

It should also be noted that some hummingbird species exhibit sexual dimorphism; females are often, but not always, smaller and less colorful, with stronger mimicry.

It is the females who will build the tiny nest, lay two eggs, and take care of feeding the newborns. The male is completely uninterested from the start; polygamous, he separates from the female after mating.

Incubation lasts between 14 and 20 days; the young leave the nest when they are about 3 weeks old.

Having the chance to observe the frenzied and colorful ballet of these extraordinary little birds around a flower bed is an unforgettable marvel.

All photos are by the author and are not royalty-free.