Immature Black-chinned Hummingbird cleaning its billImmature Black-chinned Hummingbird cleaning its bill – Nikon D500, f9, 1/800, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Two days ago I had a few fleeting moments with an immature Black-chinned Hummingbird that flew in and landed close to me and I relished every second with it. When the hummingbird landed one of the first things it did was scrape its bill on the greasewood twig it had perched on.

Immature Black-chinned Hummingbird close upImmature Black-chinned Hummingbird close up – Nikon D500, f9, 1/800, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Then the tiny Black-chinned Hummingbird proceeded to flutter…

Black-chinned Hummingbird stretching while perchedBlack-chinned Hummingbird stretching while perched – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1000, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Stretch…

Black-chinned Hummingbird wing flutterBlack-chinned Hummingbird wing flutter – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1000, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

And flutter some more while I photographed it in several continuous bursts. I love how long I can fire away with the Nikon D500 using the XQD card and not worry about filling my buffer! On older cameras I would have missed some of these poses because the buffer would have filled up rapidly. I remember the days when I would miss great shots because my buffer was full.

Black-chinned Hummingbird tongueBlack-chinned Hummingbird tongue – Nikon D500, f10, 1/800, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I even got to see and photograph the hummingbird’s tongue a few times.

I believe this is the palest immature Black-chinned Hummingbird I have ever photographed, I could barely make out any markings on its chin.

Immature Black-chinned Hummingbird perched on a twigImmature Black-chinned Hummingbird perched on a twig – Nikon D500, f10, 1/800, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This last photo was taken right before the immature hummingbird turned and flew away. I had 57 seconds with this hummingbird and I was able to make every one of them count.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Black-chinned Hummingbird photos plus facts and information about this species.