#florisuga

Female White-necked Jacobin by Adam Rainoff Via Flickr: This photograph captures a Female White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) perched quietly at La Minga Ecolodge, near Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The bird’s muted emerald and teal tones are layered with soft gray scaling across the chest, a subtle palette that often causes females to be overlooked beside their more flamboyant male counterparts. Here, the long, gently curved bill and elongated wings are emphasized by a clean side profile, while the diagonal perch adds a sense of balance and calm. The background dissolves into a smooth wash of green, isolating the subject and allowing fine feather detail and eye sharpness to carry the frame. From a technical standpoint, this image was all about restraint and timing. I worked to keep the background distant and uncluttered, using a shallow depth of field to separate the bird from the forest while maintaining enough detail to honor the texture of the plumage. The soft, diffused light typical of this cloud-forest environment helped preserve natural color without harsh contrast, making post-processing minimal and true to the scene. As photographers, we often chase drama, but moments like this remind me how powerful simplicity can be when composition, light, and subject align. ©2026 Adam Rainoff Photographer

White-necked Jacobin by Adam Rainoff Via Flickr: Capturing the White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) in its natural habitat at Birdwatch La Conchita near Cali, Colombia, provided a remarkable opportunity to explore and document the vibrant dynamics of avian life. The photograph showcases this striking bird in mid-flight, its deep blue hood and green upperparts set against a softly blurred green background. Utilizing a shallow depth of field, I was able to isolate the bird from the surrounding foliage, emphasizing the brilliant coloration and intricate feather details that make the White-necked Jacobin a subject of endless fascination. From a technical standpoint, shooting this image required patience and a high shutter speed to freeze the rapid wing movement, capturing a moment of pure, ephemeral grace. Lighting played a crucial role, enhancing the iridescent quality of the bird's plumage. This image not only reflects my passion for avian photography but also underscores the importance of precision and timing in wildlife photography. It's a testament to the serene moments of nature that are often hidden in plain sight, waiting to be immortalized through the lens. ©2021 Adam Rainoff Photographer

White-necked Jacobin Hummingbird by Chris Bainbridge Via Flickr: Not quite sure where the name comes from, but the Jacobins were the most radical and ruthless of the political groups formed in the wake of the French Revolution, and in association with Robespierre they instituted the Terror of 1793–4. They often wore blue ex-military coats - maybe from there? :-) Taken in Costa Rica (at Rancho Naturalista). You don't want to know how many out of focus shots of these birds I took to get one half decent one.