Hummingbirds of Panama

Bymikele64 10 November 202520 November 2025

A few hours, at one of my favorite spots, in search of close-ups

The goal of this session was to try to get some close-ups and thus highlight the feathers and eyes of the hummingbird species present. Perched or in flight, it’s always a challenge as the small jet helicopter is so lively and doesn’t stay still.

The beautiful Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (*Amazilia tzacatl*) in flight

We can thus note the small quantity of feathers compared to the majority of bird species and the difference between some that are iridescent and others.
As detailed in the article dedicated to hummingbirds (note *1), depending on the direction of the lighting, they will appear brilliant or dull.

Photo of a Hummingbird Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus) stocking up on nectar in flight — A Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus) stocking up on nectar

Hummingbird White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) in flight — White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) in flight

Photo close-up of a beautiful Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl). Panama — Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (*Amazilia tzacatl*), close-up to highlight the iridescent feathers

Also note that some can erect feathers to appear threatening when competitors approach… Let’s remember that they are small but tough, jealous, and quarrelsome around feeding areas.

Hummingbird Brown Violetear preventing in flight — A Brown Violetear preventing a competitor from approaching…

Hummingbird Brown Violetear (Colibri delphinae) close-up — Brown Violetear (Colibri delphinae) Note the iridescent feathers

Their eyes are large and slightly bulging, providing a useful angle of vision to avoid collisions during their ultra-fast flights.
Not visible but not useless to recall, as indicated in the article dedicated to them, hummingbirds have an additional type of photoreceptor cone in the structure of their retina. They thus see colors that, for example, humans do not perceive.