Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are finally showing up at my feeders here in Arkansas. They seem to have arrived about a week later than normal this year.
The first one I noticed was a female on April 26. She may have come in earlier, and I just missed seeing her.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Return to My Yard
The female was the first one I saw at the feeder this spring. A week later, I noticed a male coming in.
Right now, I only see them a few times a day. I am guessing it may be the same two birds, but I cannot say that for sure.
The male is easier to pick out when the light catches his throat. That flash of red makes him stand out fast.
The female has a plainer throat, but she is just as fun to watch. I always enjoy seeing the first hummingbirds return each spring.
Watching for the Female and Male at the Feeder
At this point, they are not staying around the feeders all day. They come in, feed, and disappear again.
I hope that changes soon. Once they settle in, I usually get more chances to watch and photograph them.
I keep an eye on the feeder from the house and from my deck. These birds move fast, so I have to be ready before they show up.
I wrote more about this type of shooting in my earlier post on photographing hummingbirds in flight at my feeder.
Photographing Hummingbirds in Flight from the Deck
For the first photo, I used a fast shutter speed to freeze the bird in flight. Even then, hummingbirds can still show wing blur because they move so quickly.
I photographed from my deck with the camera supported on a ground pod resting on the deck rail. That setup helped steady the camera while still letting me follow the bird.
The soft green background helped keep the attention on the hummingbird. It also gave the photo a clean spring look.
Camera settings for Photo 1:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark 2
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- Focal length: 707 mm
- Aperture: f/10
- Shutter speed: 1/4000 second
- ISO: 12800
- Exposure compensation: +2/3
- Support: Ground pod resting on deck rail
- Date and time: May 5, 2026, at 12:22 P.M.
I am glad to have them back. Now I am hoping they stay close to the feeders long enough for more photos.