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13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Long-tailed Sylph Hummingbird feeding on nectar from hibiscus relative

Most hummingbirds feed primarily on nectar and insects but sometimes their bills are not long enough to reach the nectar. That´s exactly what happened here as another bird, probably a Flowerpiercer, open a hole in the base of this hibiscus flower to steal nectar, and I say still as these birds does not pollinate the flower but just steal the natural fuel. In this case the hummingbird had learned to do the same and that´s when I cought it while flying and extending its tail feathers as another hummingbird of of the frame came to compite for food.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2015
Date Uploaded: 05.2015
Photo Location: Ecuador
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Copyright: © Juan Carlos Vindas
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