The Snappy Dresser

"Fashions fade, style is eternal." -  Yves Saint Laurent

One of the great things about hummingbirds is that they are always such snappy dressers. Take this ruby throat male, for example.

Look at his immaculate little shiny green suit, his white bib, his dark throat. (The part of the throat that looks black in this photo looks bright shiny ruby red from a slightly different angle.)

Oh, wait, is that a tiny little cowlick I spy on the neck there? Say it isn't so; one little feather is out of place! Oh! May I fix it for you, sir?  ;-)

The soundtrack: ZZ Top, Sharp Dressed Man.

P.S. A few quick hummingbird tips . . .

1. Did you know that it is not necessary for there to be red dye in the food to attract hummingbirds? And in fact, many people believe that the red dye may actually be BAD for these marvelous little birds.

2. The easiest and cheapest way to make food for them is to mix one part sugar with four parts water. Simple and easy!

3. Please keep those feeders clean and well filled. During the hottest months of summer, that may mean emptying, cleaning, and refilling the feeders every few days. Fermented or moldy feeders and/or food can cause birds to become sick.

4. To attract pollinators (hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other winged creatures) to your yard, plant things that they love to eat. I promise you will be twice blessed, as the critters who come to feast will be happy, and YOU will be happy too, when you get some marvelous shots of them with your camera for Blip! :-)

For the hummingbirds . . .