The five photos below are consecutive shots in a burst, with an elapsed time of less than 1\/10th of a second between each shot. The entire sequence lasted significantly less than half a second.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/black-chinned-hummingbird-3946-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"black-chinned-hummingbird-3946-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\n
1\/5000, f\/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc<\/em><\/p>\nIt all started with this hummer taking a break on her favorite resting perch after an extended period of feeding on the trumpet vine flowers. Suddenly she was…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/black-chinned-hummingbird-3947-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"black-chinned-hummingbird-3947-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\n
1\/4000, f\/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc<\/em><\/p>\nambushed from behind by another hummer with mayhem on its mind. She took off just in time, but she didn’t go far.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/black-chinned-hummingbird-3948-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"black-chinned-hummingbird-3948-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\n
1\/5000, f\/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc<\/em><\/p>\nI was amazed by how fast she was able to turn around in flight and face her attacker.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/black-chinned-hummingbird-3949-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"black-chinned-hummingbird-3949-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\n
1\/5000, f\/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc<\/em><\/p>\nShe backed up a couple of inches (yes, hummingbirds can fly backwards), apparently while trying to decide whether to fight or flee.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/black-chinned-hummingbird-3950-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"black-chinned-hummingbird-3950-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\n
1\/5000, f\/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc<\/em><\/p>\nShe chose the former so she rushed forward, which made the attacker put on its brakes, abandon its attack and fly off. In the next shot in the burst, both birds had flown out of frame at upper left. The only part of a bird left in the frame was the tail of one of the hummers, probably the one on the right.<\/p>\n
I’ve found that trying to get quality photos of fighting hummingbirds is a humbling experience. I’ve been trying for years with little to no success. They’re just too fast and agile and my reflexes are too slow.<\/p>\n
So getting these four consecutive shots yesterday, with neither bird clipped or cut off, both birds sharp or sharp enough and a catch light in the eye of both birds most of the time, was highly rewarding.<\/p>\n
After all those years of trying, it’s about damn time.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Five consecutive shots in a burst.<\/p>\n
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