Ruby-topaz Hummingbird - Chrysolampis mosquitus

Colibri rubis-topaze

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird male adult breeding
The bright ruby-red cap golden-topaz throat/upper chest of this bird is not due to constitutional pigment but is a consequence of the physical structure of the feathers in these areas. These feathers act as refractors diffraction gratings -the refractive elements split white light into its constituent colours (like rain in sunlight creating a rainbow) -most of the colours are then filtered out by the diffractive elements leaving a pure bright irridescent colour. But all this depends on sunlight hitting at just the right angle!
Copy forbidden without prior authorization. © Steve Garvie
  • ♂
  • adult
  • breeding
  • Colibrí rubí
  • beija-flor-vermelho
  • Moskitokolibri
  • Chrysolampis mosquitus
  • Apodiformes

The species

Classification

Order  : Apodiformes
Family : Trochilidae
Species : Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

Geographic range by countries


specie's pictures

by the author
all the pictures

The picture

O.Net ref. : stga49763
Author :
Gender : ♂
Plumage : adult, breeding

Shooting

date : 2006 May
Country : Trinidad and Tobago (td)
Region : County of Saint George
Place : Asa Wright Nature Centre Asa Wright Nature Centre
Lat. : 10° 43' 48'' North
Lng. : 61° 17' 53'' West

Exif Data [+] [-]



Model : Canon 1D mkII
Exposure : 1/750s s

aperture : f5.6

Focal length : 700 mm

Iso : 250

Flash : no