Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding a chick on the nest in Walworth County Wisconsin on September 4, 2016

I was fortunate to get the opportunity to photograph a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on the nest feeding a chick and did not pass it up. Running into Anne Morretti out birding, she mentioned 2 of her birding friends Joann and Monica had an active bird nest. I followed the excitement of the event for a couple of weeks from the first moment of seeing a nest with a female sitting on it, the tiny beak from the chick above the nest, till the day the bird fledged. There was just one chick and the female was always hanging around of course. Once in awhile a male was seen, but I never saw it near the nest. To find a Ruby-throated Hummingbird nest, you just have to be in the right place at the right time when an adult goes to the nest, and they were. The nests are just so tiny! A big thank you to Monica, Joann and Anne for sharing this event. A difficult event to photograph as lighting changed by the second, up in a dark tree and the branches were always moving so I apologize for any poor quality images as some I thought should be included in this post. I have put the images in order as the way they happened. Images were taken from August 22, 2016 thru September 4, 2016.

It all started here.......The female adult Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting on the nest...

It all started here…….The female adult Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting on the nest…

The nest, up in a large tree tree

The nest, up in a large tree is about 2″ across and 1″ deep

At this point, not even sure if there is a chick in the nest or and egg...

At this point, not even sure if there is a chick in the nest or an egg, is she just house cleaning?

She sits on the nest, and out comes a feather, still don't know if was laying in the nest from her or is off a chick?

She sits on the nest, and out comes a feather, still don’t know if the feather was laying in the nest from her earlier or is off a chick?

Then the moment, a beak is seen poking up from the nest...

Then the moment, a beak is seen poking up from the nest, it is a chick!

The chick is growing fast, there is "Mom"

The chick is growing fast, there is the female on the branch along with the chick in the nest, calling “Mom”!

Waiting for food

Waiting for food

The female lands on the nest with some food...

The female lands on the nest with some food…

The feeding begins

The feeding begins

The feeding continues...

The feeding continues…

The feeding continues...

The feeding continues down deep…

And they take a short break

The end of the first portion

And the take a short break

And they take a short break

And they start right up and the feeding continues

And they start right up and the feeding continues

And it contiues

And it continues down deep

End of the 2 part feeding which I saw often

End of the 2 part feeding which I saw often

Nothing goes to waste...

Nothing goes to waste…

pp

A very short rest after feeding, then the female leaves the nest till the next feeding that were running about 15-20 minutes apart

I will be back soon

I’m leaving for now

I will be back soon, chick in the back ground "Mom"!

I will be back soon, chick in the background “Mom”!

Female perches in a near by tree on a branch within sight of the nest for awhile typically after feeding the chick

Female perches in a near by tree on a branch within sight of the nest for awhile typically after feeding the chick

Spreading the wings and doing some fluttering, practicing up for the first flight out of the nest to a near by branch

Stretching those wings

Preening and working that tongue

Preening and working that tongue

Two birds in one nest, I think the female was trying to open the nest up more which is what they do as the chick grows

Two birds in one nest, I think the female was trying to open the nest up more which is what they do as the chick grows, the nest expands

Preening

Preening

Just about time to fly, but the chick fledged on September 4, 2016 about 9:00 am. I hope they are all doing well now!

Spreading those wings…

Just about time to fly, but the chick fledged on September 4, 2016 about 9:00 am. I hope they are all doing well now!

Just about time to fly, the chick fledged on September 4, 2016 about 9:00 am. I hope they are all doing well!

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About admin

Window to Wildlife features the photography of Jim Edlhuber. A lifelong native of Wisconsin, Jim has been photographing wildlife for 20 years. He considers himself an avid photographer and is always trying to capture nature and wildlife through his lens. He is in several photography clubs and has won numerous awards for his work. In recent years, Jim has focused mostly on birding photography and finds it to be the most challenging.

19 Responses to Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding a chick on the nest in Walworth County Wisconsin on September 4, 2016

  1. Peggy Lison says:

    Wow Jim are you the gran daddy? Thanks for the great photos. Cheers from Peggy

  2. Amy says:

    Love this series! Esp. Mom & Baby in the nest together.

  3. KAREN JOHNSON says:

    Fantastic photos Jim! Thanks for sharing! I’m still trying to locate my female hummer’s nest1

  4. Patrick Dean says:

    atta boy, Jim. nice series and story!

  5. Rick Anderson says:

    Great story, great photography! Nice work.

  6. Annie says:

    Awesome Jim. Some day….one day we too will find one. Thanks for sharing.

  7. Vinod Baskaran says:

    Absolutely love this series.

  8. Deb Pritchard says:

    Fabulous photo series Jim. A rare and special collection.

  9. Mary Strasser says:

    You captured the nesting process beautifully. You were very fortunate to have witnessed and documented this magical series of events.

  10. Kathi and Michael Rock says:

    Such an amazing chronology of a miracle of nature Jim. Someday we hope to find a nest on our own property, but it will be very challenging with all of our huge, mature trees. Anyhow, wonderful images and narration. Love these!!

  11. Allan Block says:

    Good job…tough shooting conditions

  12. Frank Remfrey says:

    Great series of fabulous captures, Jim. Very educational as well!

  13. Sarah Stokes says:

    These photos are so amazing (as usual)! That took a lot of patience! I always wonder about that crazy long beak during feeding and how it doesn’t hurt the baby. Thanks for sharing!

  14. Mary Ann Blaubach says:

    Thank you for a thrilling experience. Sent to me from my niece, Joann and Monica,all the way to Florida.
    Photography truly beautiful.
    Will share with our nature walkers here. Great work!

  15. hermi krueger says:

    Gorgeous series of shots. .

  16. Gerald Haiar says:

    Jim you have done a great favor for bird enthusiasts by bringing us these pictures. Most of us will never be lucky enough to find a hummer nest but thanks to you we have. Thanks again.

  17. Joanie says:

    Thank you so much for sharing. I would love to find a nest some day.

  18. Megan Landauer says:

    Awesome. Thank you!

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