#luminous compositions

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Green-crowned Plovercrest by Michael W. Potter Via Flickr: Green-crowned Plovercrest is a species of hummingbird named after its distinctive crown and a long thin crest that is somewhat like that of Lapwings — a group in the same family (Charadriidae) as Plovers. This is a Brazilian endemic (thus a lifer for me), found only in a relatively small area in the southeast of the country. I saw this wonderful species on the slopes of Pico da Caledônia — a mountain near the city of Nova Friburgo in Rio de Janeiro State.

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Frilled Coquette male feeding by Michael W. Potter Via Flickr: Frilled Coquette is one of 11 hummingbird species in the Lophornis genus with the common name Coquette. The second part of the scientific name, magnificus, certainly applies! Males have a ‘frill’ of black {or green} and white throat feathers, a chestnut/orange crown, and a white band across the rump (the latter is a trademark of the genus). This bird was a lifer for me, and I only saw it once. That was in the Teresópolis area of Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, with my guide Gabriel Mello.

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Violet-capped Woodnymph male hovering to feed by Michael W. Potter Via Flickr: When I saw Violet-capped Woodnymph in Brazil, I knew it had to be a lifer since I had never before travelled in its range, which encompasses the southeastern part of that country as well as parts of Paraguay and Argentina. I saw this male feeding at Eco Lodge Itororó above the city of Nova Friburgo in Rio de Janeiro State.

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Anna's Hummingbird male by Michael W. Potter Via Flickr: The light is right in this photo to show the colourful gorget of this male Anna’s Hummingbird. The small size of this species (which is actually large as hummers go) is indicated by comparison to the cone in this image. This individual was at the ts’uḵw’um (Wilson Creek) Estuary on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada.

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Swainson's Hawk by Michael W Potter Via Flickr: This Swainson’s Hawk conveys a sense of dignity and strength befitting a powerful raptor. (Check out the long talons to get an idea of its hunting abilities.) This individual was east of Airdrie in southern Alberta, Canada.

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Indigo-capped Hummingbird (endemic species of Colombia) by Michael W Potter Via Flickr: The original of this image is available as a stock photograph with Grandmaison Photo Agency www.grandmaisonphotography.com/image?&_bqG=0&_bqH... The Indigo-capped Hummingbird is an endemic species of Colombia, South America: the country with the most bird species on Earth. This individual was at the Jardin Encantado, a private sanctuary with many hummingbird feeders in the small town of San Francisco, not far west of Bogota.

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Amethyst Woodstar by Michael W Potter Via Flickr: Amethyst Woodstar is a tiny species of hummingbird, yet despite its small size it is widespread in South America—found in every nation on that continent except Chile and Uruguay. This individual, likely a female, was seen at a private sanctuary on the lower part of the renowned Manu Road in Peru.

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Gould's Jewelfront female by Michael W Potter Via Flickr: There are many elaborate names for hummingbird species, but Gould’s Jewelfront is one of the most intriguing. (The species is also known as Gould’s Brilliant, which is equally fascinating.) Jewelfront aptly describes the small but colourful forecrown (often more prominent on males), while Gould’s refers to famous English ornithologist John Gould (1804-1881), who wrote the first scientific account of the species. The female in this image (with a buff rather than dark chin as on males) was seen at a private sanctuary on the lower part of the renowned Manu Road in Peru.