I haven't seen any hummingbirds yet. Then again, the only blooms in our yard right now are tulips, daffodils, iris, harlequin flowers, azaleas, and pansies... a few dianthus. The brugmansia and lantana are showing green two months early. The ginger lilies, cannas, asclepias, and elephant ears seem a bit early too. Passion flower, clematis, columbine, and gerbera daisies all have large flower buds on them. Easter lilies started popping up in December, oddly enough. First year I've noticed them doing that. Oh! The big box store astilbes that I thought had died started coming up earlier this month. Very excited about those! If I had known spring was going to come this early... Well, it seemed more like summer a few days this past week... I would have started seeds in early February or late January. Now I'm scrambling to get everything sown before it becomes too warm! A few cold nights ahead, so hopefully the late winter sown containers will catch up with the others. Jeff

The reason the background is black is because in order to freeze the wings I have to use a flash, then deliberately underexpose the photograph so that the only light available for the photo is the flash. This makes the background black.

Plantnut, the colors change with the light. The slightest change in the inclination of the head can change the colors from red to black as the light flashes off. ctnchpr, amazing how ferocious the tiny things can be, isn't it? :)

Yes, female hummers will guard territory.