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This photo was taken without flash in natural light.
This photo was taken with flash. Hummingbirds display iridescent colors. Comparing this photo with the one above I think primarily illustrates the dependence of the color (the constructively-interfered wavelength) on the angle of the incident light. With flash the light is directed at the shortest possible angle- perpendicularly. Without flash most of the light is directed at higher angles. Just as is predicted by thin film reflection theory, the color of the iridescence moves towards the violet end of the spectrum as the viewing angle increases. That is, with flash the feathers appear more yellow and without flash they appear more green (green is closer to violet than yellow). Notice that the non-iridescent (pigmented) color of the fern foliage appears nearly the same with and w/o flash.
I was photographing some flowers when this hummingbird ghost appeared very close and startled me, so I quickly snapped this photo without focusing.
Today I discovered a few pieces of egg shells on the sidewalk beneath the nest.
Here's another piece of an egg shell.
Go on to Page 5 of Announcing An Anna's Annual Arrivals.
For previous year's arrivals:
Go to the 2003 hummingbird photos.
Go to the 2004 hummingbird photos.