Buff-bellied Hummingbird

© Andy Baumgartner

Published: January 16, 2012

Subscriber and forum member Andy Baumgartner photographed this Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis) in his backyard in Madisonville, Louisiana, in early January 2012.

"This is the first year I’ve seen a Buff-bellied Hummingbird visit my feeder," he tells us, noting that he occasionally sees Rufous and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at the feeder in winter.

"I took my first shots with a telephoto lens from 25 feet away and was semi-pleased with my results," he says. "To see if I could get closer, I decided to try a different tack. I set a lawn chair about eight feet from the feeder so the bird would grow accustomed to it. The following morning, I set my camera and tripod next to the chair and went inside to work. Around lunchtime, I went outside and sat in the chair with my hand on the wired remote. I had pre-focused the camera where I thought the bird would be and had the auto focus turned off. Within five minutes, this little guy came to feed. He seemed to barely notice my presence and let me click away. What a treat!"

Andy used a Nikon D5000 and a Tamron 90mm lens.

Read about hummingbirds in winter in the Gulf region.

See more photos of hummingbirds:
- Anna's Hummingbird female and nestling
- Anna's Hummingbird with a water-soaked bill
- Black-chinned Hummingbird female
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird
- Buff-bellied Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Costa's Hummingbird
- Purple-throated Carib
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched
- Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at a feeder
- Rufous Hummingbird in flight at Oregon's William L. Finley NWR
- Rufous Hummingbird chicks in the nest
- Rufous Hummingbird, oncoming female
- Rufous Hummingbird stretches atop a twig
- Rufous Hummingbird hovering near a nectar feeder in British Columbia
- Rufous Hummingbird, close-up portrait of hovering bird
- Rufous Hummingbirds colliding in flight
- Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
- Tufted Coquette
- Violet-crowned Woodnymph preening
- Violet-crowned Woodnymph perched
- White-eared Hummingbird

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