Birds

Anna’s Hummingbird Female Bathing and Preening at the Waterfall

June 5, 2013 by Larry 2 Comments

 

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird Female (Calypte anna) Bathing and Preening at the Waterfall

Hummingbirds don’t always sip nectar or sugar water. When the temperatures get above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) they need additional water. Click on photos for full sized images.

Anna's Hummingbird

The hummingbirds in my yard are often seen bathing and drinking at the waterfall.

Anna's Hummingbird

This female Anna’s Hummingbird was bathing when I had my camera out the other day…

Anna's Hummingbird

so I thought I would snap off a few photos while I had the chance.

Anna's Hummingbird

Once she had enough to drink and soaked her feathers pretty well she flew up to the silver dollar eucalyptus where she began preening.

Anna's Hummingbird

Some places are hard to reach when you have a long beak like hers…

Anna's Hummingbird

but she managed to get all her feathers aligned…

Anna's Hummingbird

well maybe not all of them.

Anna's Hummingbird

Maybe a few more contortions…

Anna's Hummingbird

and she’ll be good to go.

Anna's Hummingbird

I’m ready for my close up Mr. DeMill. Oh, the photo shoot is over?

Anna's Hummingbird

I shot this video of a female Anna’s Hummingbird last fall at the waterfall. I hope you enjoy it!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D137d75iF74

Written by Larry
Larry Jordan was introduced to birding after moving to northern California where he was overwhelmed by the local wildlife, forcing him to buy his first field guide just to be able to identify all the species visiting his yard. Building birdhouses and putting up feeders brought the avian fauna even closer and he was hooked. Larry wanted to share his passion for birds and conservation and hatched The Birder's Report in September of 2007. His recent focus is on bringing the Western Burrowing Owl back to life in California where he also monitors several bluebird trails. He is a BirdLife Species Champion and contributes to several other conservation efforts, being the webmaster for Wintu Audubon Society and the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Urban Bird Foundation. He is now co-founder of a movement to create a new revenue stream for our National Wildlife Refuges with a Wildlife Conservation Pass.