Allen's Hummingbird

Description:

This is a smaller-sized hummingbird. Males are orange in color in the sides, wings and head, with an iridescent orange gorget under which is a white neck band, as pictured in the 2nd through 4th photos above. Females are similar in body color, but without the gorget as pictured in the first photo.

Habitat:

These birds were spotted on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California, about 2 miles from the Pacific Ocean. This area was covered in gardens and lawns…the garden blooms attract the hummers who migrate north in winter from Mexico, and return in the fall. Online sources indicate there is a sub-species that lives in Southern California all year round, which I have not been able to identify or distinguish.

Notes:

Although a hummer’s digestive tract is very efficient at processing nutrients, nectar passes through its system in about 20 minutes. Accordingly when active they must feed frequently. They save energy by perching/resting about 75% to 80% of their awake time. When photographing these birds, you have a window of about 1 - 2 minutes to catch them at a flower. Between visits to feed on nectar, they are gone and perched for 15 - 20 minutes before they return. Their wings beat extremely fast. I usually have my camera set at up to 1/8000 of a second to freeze their wings in a photo taken in bright sunlight. Sometimes even then they blur. Fascinating little birds!