The Shimmering Shape of You
Species: Broad-tailed Hummingbird on Parry’s Penstemon (Penstemon parryi)
Habitat: Flower: Mountain canyons; desert washes; grassland slopes
Location: Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, SE of Tucson
Public Land: Coronado National Forest
Description: It’s long thought that hummingbirds are singularly attracted to red, tubular flowers. Recent science shows that while they might have a slight preference for red, their long and slender bills are perfectly capable of extracting nectar from both long and shallow flowers of any color. Also blessed with a good sense of smell, hummingbirds go wherever there’s high-sugar nectar to meet their needs.
Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucon, Arizona is a renowned birding destination in the United States. The Santa Rita Mountains are considered “sky islands” meaning they are isolated from other mountain ranges by surrounding aridlands. Because of their isolated habitat, Sky Island mountains often harbor endemic and rare species. Madera Canyon is an oases for 250 species of birds including 15 different species of hummingbirds, many not seen elsewhere in the country.
Broad-tailed hummingbirds only spend a few short months in the U.S. to breed from May - August, migrating to Central America for winter. They breed at elevations up to 10,500 feet, where nighttime temperatures regularly plunge below freezing. To make it through a cold night, they slow their heart rate and drop their body temperature, entering a state of torpor. As soon as the sun comes up, displaying males show off their rose-magenta throats while performing spectacular dives.
Fine art print on acid free, 100% cotton, bright or warm white, textured surface, archival quality paper. For more about papers I use click here.
Species: Broad-tailed Hummingbird on Parry’s Penstemon (Penstemon parryi)
Habitat: Flower: Mountain canyons; desert washes; grassland slopes
Location: Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, SE of Tucson
Public Land: Coronado National Forest
Description: It’s long thought that hummingbirds are singularly attracted to red, tubular flowers. Recent science shows that while they might have a slight preference for red, their long and slender bills are perfectly capable of extracting nectar from both long and shallow flowers of any color. Also blessed with a good sense of smell, hummingbirds go wherever there’s high-sugar nectar to meet their needs.
Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucon, Arizona is a renowned birding destination in the United States. The Santa Rita Mountains are considered “sky islands” meaning they are isolated from other mountain ranges by surrounding aridlands. Because of their isolated habitat, Sky Island mountains often harbor endemic and rare species. Madera Canyon is an oases for 250 species of birds including 15 different species of hummingbirds, many not seen elsewhere in the country.
Broad-tailed hummingbirds only spend a few short months in the U.S. to breed from May - August, migrating to Central America for winter. They breed at elevations up to 10,500 feet, where nighttime temperatures regularly plunge below freezing. To make it through a cold night, they slow their heart rate and drop their body temperature, entering a state of torpor. As soon as the sun comes up, displaying males show off their rose-magenta throats while performing spectacular dives.
Fine art print on acid free, 100% cotton, bright or warm white, textured surface, archival quality paper. For more about papers I use click here.
Species: Broad-tailed Hummingbird on Parry’s Penstemon (Penstemon parryi)
Habitat: Flower: Mountain canyons; desert washes; grassland slopes
Location: Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, SE of Tucson
Public Land: Coronado National Forest
Description: It’s long thought that hummingbirds are singularly attracted to red, tubular flowers. Recent science shows that while they might have a slight preference for red, their long and slender bills are perfectly capable of extracting nectar from both long and shallow flowers of any color. Also blessed with a good sense of smell, hummingbirds go wherever there’s high-sugar nectar to meet their needs.
Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucon, Arizona is a renowned birding destination in the United States. The Santa Rita Mountains are considered “sky islands” meaning they are isolated from other mountain ranges by surrounding aridlands. Because of their isolated habitat, Sky Island mountains often harbor endemic and rare species. Madera Canyon is an oases for 250 species of birds including 15 different species of hummingbirds, many not seen elsewhere in the country.
Broad-tailed hummingbirds only spend a few short months in the U.S. to breed from May - August, migrating to Central America for winter. They breed at elevations up to 10,500 feet, where nighttime temperatures regularly plunge below freezing. To make it through a cold night, they slow their heart rate and drop their body temperature, entering a state of torpor. As soon as the sun comes up, displaying males show off their rose-magenta throats while performing spectacular dives.
Fine art print on acid free, 100% cotton, bright or warm white, textured surface, archival quality paper. For more about papers I use click here.