Tuesday, October 04, 2022

Say Hello to Sam!

Video clips of dozens of hummingbirds calmly buzzing around feeders always fascinate me. You see, there is a year-round colony of Anna's hummingbirds that lives here at Casa Kittling. They're joined by some black-chinned hummingbirds in the summer, and all of these tiny wonders are so territorial that it's a Red Letter Day to see two of them sharing the same feeder without a fight breaking out. It's much more common to see them chasing each other away from favorite feeders.

And that's what happened a few years ago, the only difference being that one hummer's belligerent behavior was so exaggerated and so prolonged that I managed to get the best photographs I've ever taken of a hummingbird. It's all thanks to an ill-tempered Anna's hummingbird I named Sam (after Yosemite Sam, another little guy with more than his share of attitude).

Over a period of two days, Sam found the one perfect spot in which to perch and keep an eye on ALL of the feeders here in the back garden, and from sun-up to sundown, he chased all the other hummingbirds away. Now... he'd leave every once in awhile and other hummers would sneak in for a quick drink, but if he came back and caught them, the interlopers had to face his mighty wrath. This mean little hombre let me get within four feet of him. Any closer, and I think he would've stabbed me with that needle beak of his.

Let me share three of my favorite photos of Sam.

See that attitude? I wonder if his ill temper had anything to do with that little gnat stuck on the end of his beak?


I loved how turning his head in the sunlight would change the colors of his feathers.


See what I mean about those feathers changing colors. Sam is gorgeous, isn't he?


I hope you enjoyed meeting Sam. He's the sassiest bird I've ever had the pleasure to meet.

16 comments:

  1. He's fantastic, Cathy! I'm happy for you that you have some sassy hummingbird company; that's great! And those pictures are gorgeous! I'll bet it's so much fun to watch those birds.

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    1. It has been so much fun watching these little wonders over the years!

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  2. I'd be a little miffed too if a gnat took up residence on my glorious beak. I love Sam. He is my brother from another mother.

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    1. I remember him repeatedly trying to scrape the bug off his beak. It certainly didn't improve his mood any! LOL

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  3. Wonderful pictures of this amazing creature. We get Ruby-throats and Rufouses here but very rarely any other kind of hummer.

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    1. I want to go back to Ramsey Canyon, just above the Mexican border. I know of a place where I can sit in the shade and watch at least five different hummingbirds species at the feeders. *sigh*

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  4. Sam is gorgeous! And those are amazing photos. Thank you for sharing them. :D

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  5. Great photos! There's a hummingbird inWV who's been known to be intimidating if 'his' flowers aren't waiting for him when he arrives 😉

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    1. These tiny critters are packed with personality! Some of the hummers here come to the door to tell me that their favorite feeder is empty.

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  6. What a gorgeous bird and what amazing pictures! You can definitely see his attitude in the first picture. What a character. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

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  7. Gobsmacked by the changes in Sam's coloring. Is it camouflage? Or a mating display? Male peacocks have those beautiful tail display to attract femals.

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    1. That's just the way hummingbird feathers are. Can't be camouflage because the brilliant colors make them stand out too much. They probably have more to do with territorial and mating displays.

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    2. A friend keeps posting photos of beautiful birds on Facebook. All colors. Some look like art, rather than nature they're so brilliant.

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    3. There are several groups on Facebook that post gorgeous bird photos.

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