On my recent trip to Ecuador a Violet-fronted Brilliant hummingbird perched nearby. Any time a hummingbird perches I start taking pictures of it (because they are so hard to capture in flight). When I got home and processed the images I found I had taken quite a few in less than 30 seconds and when I looked closely at each image I noticed that the head feathers changed color many times during those few seconds. Usually I think of hummingbirds’ gorget (throat area) changing colors so I thought it was unusual to see the crown of the head changing from purple to blue to almost black.
I used my new-found skills at creating a multi-image frame so it would be easier to see the color change. Look closely at just its head starting on the top row going left to right then down a row.
Very interesting. Usually one notices the color change as the hummingbird moves its head or otherwise catches more sunlight. This hummingbird head plumage got darker without either moving or sun appearing. At least that what it seems. Beautiful bird.