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<\/p>\nA hummingbird with apparent entomophobia (yes, that’s a word).<\/p>\n
Finally, for the last several days a single male Rufous Hummingbird has been hanging around the trumpet vine. But, unlike the other hummers, he almost never feeds on the flowers. He mostly hangs out on a particular dead twig and lies in wait to ambush other hummers that dare to approach the vine.<\/p>\n
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That twig is in an unfortunate (for me) spot that is partly blocked from my view by flowers and leaves, especially when there’s a breeze. But he spends so much time here, I’ve taken the time to fine-tune the precise spot where I place my tripod, and the elevation of my camera on the tripod, so that I can usually see all of him through the flowers and leaves. But just barely.<\/p>\n
From here he’s fearless when it comes to other hummingbirds. But he’s a coward when insects are involved.<\/p>\n
While he was perched here two days ago he chased off three other hummingbirds and then returned to the twig each time. In-between hummer encounters he spent a lot of time grooming, which is what he’d been doing when this photo was taken.<\/p>\n
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Suddenly an ant scurried out toward the end of the twig and threatened to climb right up his belly and breast, which definitely got his attention. All he had to do was use his long bill to knock the ant off the twig but instead, he chose…<\/p>\n
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to retreat. Rufous Hummingbirds are known for their badassery but apparently this guy is afraid of ants.<\/p>\n
The ant reacted to the commotion caused by his takeoff by turning around and going back from whence it came.<\/p>\n
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But the hummer didn’t go far. He reacted to the retreat of the ant by turning around in midair and…<\/p>\n
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returning to the twig. Here the retreating ant can be seen on the twig between the two flowers. Apparently, they both thought that discretion was the better part of valor.<\/p>\n
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The next morning (yesterday), while he was on the same twig, he had another insectivorous encounter – this time with…<\/p>\n
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a bee. And this time he seemed fully prepared to use his bill in defense.<\/p>\n
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But the bee was just passing by, so it wasn’t necessary.<\/p>\n
He really doesn’t like bees. There are lots of bees feeding on the flowers and when one comes close, he typically reacts similarly. But the action is hard to photograph well. Usually, he has his back to me and\/or the bee is just a blur. Or both.<\/p>\n
This series of two photos, with both of them sharp (enough) and the hummer’s bill open threateningly, is the best I’ve been able to do. So far. I’ll be trying again in less than an hour.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
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A hummingbird with apparent entomophobia. (8 photos)<\/p>\n