Hummingbird hatchlings, day 23

Be like a bird

That pausing in her flight

Awhile on boughs to light,

Feels them give way

Beneath her and yet sings,

Knowing that she hath wings.
Victor Marie Hugo

I’m imagining myself as that proud but admittedly obnoxious auntie who brags incessantly about her nieces and nephews, who whips out their most recent photos at every opportunity. I can’t help myself, I swear it. Our baby hummingbirds are just so adorable, and it’s been such a miracle to see them hatch and grow.

They’re so funny. Now and again, I’ll see one of them stretch, ruffle her* wings, and poke at her iridescent plumage with her very long beak. The second hummingbird, forced to the very edge of the nest by all the activity, gets a wild-eyed look that says, "Mom, she’s touching me! Tell her to move over!" Just when it seems one or the other’s about ready to topple overboard, they both get really still — almost as if to say, "Whoa, that was scary!" But not long afterward, the other one follows suit, nudging her sister with her beak or an outstretched wing. "Hey, wanna try that again?"

Doesn’t look to me like they’re planning a weekend getaway, though. I’m glad to have them around, for whatever time they choose to stay.


*Their coloring seems to suggest that they’re both female Costa’s Hummingbirds. We won’t know for sure until they reach full maturity.

25 Comments

  2. Oh they’re getting so big!!! You’re not the obnxious auntie for sharing pictures as the little ones grow! Now if you subjected all to a day-by-day slideshow, that might be a different story. 😉 Kidding!

    I’m so glad your babies are getting all big and strong. Mine left the nest last week, though I still see them buzzing about the tree now and again. Oh they grow so fast, don’t they?

    • I love that yours still hang around the tree. It’s nice that they consider it home base, isn’t it? I’d hate to think I’d never see mine again after they learn to fly.

      A slide show…hmm, I hadn’t thought of that…lol.

  4. Love your chuparosas! They are so cute! I need to get another feeder. One time I took my sun conure outside while the carpet got professionally cleaned. One of the little hummingbirds buzzed right up to my bright orange parrot, probably thinking he was a pretty flower! Let’s just say my parrot didn’t like that!!!

    • I’m glad you managed to come by for at least one!

      I haven’t named them, no. I think they’re both females, but I can’t be certain until they’re no longer “adolescents.” That said, maybe we should have a naming contest…think so?

      • I tried but her nest is such a deep one, I would have to get right on top of it to see inside and the way it is tucked in the tree I can’t do that. Hopefully I will see some beaks peeking above the rim soon : )

    • The photos make them look bigger than they are — as an artist, you probably understand that whole perspective thing better than I. All I know is that up-close-and-personal, they’re tinier than you can possibly imagine.

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