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!

Reproduction prohibited without prior permission. © Steve Garvie

The species

Classification

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

Species photos

by the author
all photos

The photo

O.Net reference : stga49763
Author : Steve Garvie
Sex : ♂
Plumage : adult, breeding

Photo details

Date : 2006 May
Country : Trinidad and Tobago (td)
Region : County of Saint George
Location : Asa Wright Nature Centre
Lat. : 10° 43' 5'' North
Lng. : 61° 17' 56'' West

Exif data [+][-]

Model : Canon 1D mkII
Speed : 1/750s s
Aperture : f5.6
Focal length : 700 mm
Iso : 250
Flash : no