Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

(mountain vacation back blip #2)

This is a male Rivoli's hummingbird. He looks a bit ragged because he's molting.  It's that time of year.  It has been more noticeable on the males than the females, probably because the colors are so brilliant on most male hummers. Interestingly, they only most on their body, not their wings or tails.  These large hummingbirds (around 4 inches) used to be called Magnificent hummingbirds. The name fit perfectly.  I'm not sure why the name was changed several years ago. That's probably something I should know.

The extra is a female broad-tailed (I think) without it's tail feathers flared. I liked it because there's a blur of a bird heading in the opposite direction.