Just Waiting on a Flame

Nothing like getting in just under the wire. We’ve come to the end of another month or as we say here at Intrigued, officially HT-2 – only TWO months before the annual Haunted Trail event. We have been working hard on creating props, new power solutions and trail prep since we made it home from our western foray, but now the pressure really starts to build. Sleep is becoming a luxury even before mixing in this month’s stepped up run training cycle. I would liken it to being back in the corporate grind if it wasn’t so damn fun hahaha. Oh, speaking of a physical “grind”, the Intrigued family extend their best wishes for “happy feet”, clear skies, cool temps and emotional fortitude to Jan (and Brad) during their annual charity event. I will let Brad comment more on that at a later time – fingers crossed they are not getting the current downpour going on here.

Now let’s get to today’s featured feathered friend and put a wrap on this month’s colorful theme!

Watching Hummers go passing by
It ain’t the latest thing
I’m just standing in a blind
I’m just trying to make some sense
Out of these Hummers that passing by
The tales they tell of nectar
I’m not waiting on a lady
I’m just waiting on a [male to] flame

Yes, I took some liberties on a classic song, but that was me in March of 2025. Hit the jump to learn more.

Ever catch yourself repeating something subconsciously in a given situation? Whenever I am in the field at a Hummingbird station that Rolling Stone’s song pops into my brain and goes into repeat mode until one of these speedsters takes pity on me and reveals their hidden secret.

As noted in the previous entries in this month’s Hummer series, they can be a bit tricky to identity when the males are not displaying their pretty gorgets (throats) or worse, a mixed gathering of females. Heads up, there are NO female shots of today’s featured Hummer as I do not have strong confidence in properly identifying them and, unfortunately, really short on time to spend digging deep into reference manuals. Remember that “Hummer Hell” folder mentioned a few posts back, a large number of likely female Anna’s Hummingbirds were dumped in there this week. Please forgive me for taking the easy way out this time and just going with male specimens – maybe I’ll circle back and cover all the female species I’ve featured in this series and give you a good comparison to use in the field – but only if you behave ha.

Firstly, I just want to apologize to the male Anna’s Hummingbird population for being given such a feminine name. I can’t imagine the grief they get from the other family members around the feeder gatherings; “Hi there Mr. Anna’s, did you forget your purse?“, “Hey dude, you sound like a lady“, “Hey sugar, take a walk on the wild side“.

Maybe René-Primevère Lesson thought this diminutive bird needed a tough name to survive (link here):

“Son, this world is rough
And if a Hummer’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough
And I knew I wouldn’t be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
I knew you’d have to get tough or die
And it’s the name that helped to make you strong.“

Truth be told, Anna’s is actually named after the Duke of Rivoli’s wife – see Rivoli’s Hummingbird which was named after her husband (link here).

I would attribute the aggressiveness of this Hummingbird at the feeders to this ‘tough’ name, but honestly, all Hummingbirds have a rather nasty disposition to other visitors at a feeder. First one to find the feeder usually takes ownership of it and will generally fight like hell to ward others off. Even with all the feeders available at the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, where most of these shots were taken, you will still see their possessive nature play out.

At a point in the pictures where I need to talk about how to identify these Hummingbirds in the field. I like to give you tips when I can to help you out, except there isn’t really anything like a fully “Flame On” Anna’s – at least in the US (link here). When they are not on full display, like the shots to this point, it can be just slightly trickier… very slightly. What you need to look for is any showing of color above the gorget (throat). Easiest is eye level and above as the Anna’s has a full color hood similar to the Rivoli’s and Costa’s (link here) except it will have a reddish or yellowish hue instead of a purple one. The Violet-Crowned also have a purplish crown, but easily differentiated by the all white throat/breast (link here). All the other male Hummers in the US will only show coloring in their throat area. Look closely at the shots above and you will see a darker line coming back from the eye separated by a lighter section before the throat. That hint of color will help you distinguish it from the Black-Chinned (all black link here) and the Ruby-Throated (also dark hooded).

….but if you are willing to “wait on the flame“…there is no doubt.

These shots were taken in a rather bright setting forcing me to address some hot spots. This forced me to take some of the highlights down in the digital darkroom – the Anna’s iridescent head piece is incredibly brilliant in person. A true stunner in my opinion that can hold up well against the Rivoli’s magnificent (see what I did there) display.

Depending on how the lighting hits those head feathers you will get anything ranging from a golden hue to a magenta burst.

I’ll sit back and simply let you enjoy the visuals….

This specimen stopped slurping for a moment to take issue with me “DID YOU JUST CALL ME SUE!?!“

Ummmm, Linda, I think it might be time to go, he just might “come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear“.

Just to wrap up the story of the Anna’s Hummingbird, they can be found in the southwestern region and more sporadic in the upper northwestern states. They will extend their western region (California) into southern tip of Nevada and into the southern half of Arizona/New Mexico along with a just the far western portion of Texas during breeding season. Note, that includes the northern portion of Central American and full time in Baja Cali.

Will officially call it the end of July there and let you get back to your day. May life always present you with a bouquet of Hummingbirds (yes, that’s the term for a flock of Hummers).