Capturing a photo of a hummingbird in flight with clearly focused wings can be very difficult, as some varieties are capable of beating their wings up to 52 times a second. This gives them the ability to hover and fly backwards – something that few other birds can do and that none have mastered the way the hummingbird has.

Green-Crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula): The Green-crowned Brilliant Hummingbird (Heliodoxa jacula) - also known as Blue-throated Flying Dolphin or Green-fronted Brilliant - is a large hummingbird that occurs naturally in Central and South America. The Green-crowned Billiant Hummingbird is found in the highlands from Costa Rica to western Ecuador - typically between 700 m and 2000 m in altitude, mainly on the Caribbean slopes. It lives in wet mountain forests including edges, gaps and tall second growth.

Wine-Throated Hummingbird: Wine-throated Hummingbird belongs to the genus Atthis, consisting of only two species. The Bumblebee Hummingbird (Atthis heloisa) is restricted to the Mexican highlands north of the isthmus of Tehuantepec, and the Wine-throated Hummingbird (Atthis ellioti) is endemic to the highlands south of the isthmus, including southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. In Guatemala, Wine-throated Hummingbird occurs above 1500 m (4900 ft), mainly above 2000 m (6560 ft). During the breeding season, males gather on leks. Image credits: Knut Eisermann

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus): The rufous hummingbird is widely acknowledged as the most aggressive of the North American hummingbirds. Despite also being one of the smallest hummingbirds, and this tiny copper-colored member of the Trochilidae family will readily attack birds many times its size. Yet even with a territorial attitude, this hummingbird is a welcome and beautiful addition to many yards in western North America, and is a surprising eastern guest in some winter yards as well. Image credits: ideiasedicas.com

Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae): Small hummingbird of desert habitats in Southwest U.S. and western Mexico. Compact and short-tailed with a slightly drooping bill. Male has a brilliant purple crown and throat that extends down to a point on each side; the purple coloration can appear black in poor lighting. Females are plainer with greenish back and dingy grayish underparts. Females similar to Anna's Hummingbird, but smaller, short-tailed, and have a drooping bill. Costa's is paler below with less green flecking on belly; its shorter tail is as long as the wings when perched.

Marvelous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis): The Marvelous Spatuletail is endemic to Peru and one of the most beautiful and spectacular Peruvian hummingbird. The male exhibits a long tail with only four feathers, including two long racket-shaped outer rectrices. These peculiar ornaments cross each other and can move independently. There is a large violet-blue disc or "spatule" at the end of each feather. The tail is used in courtship displays while the male hovers in front of the female. The Marvelous Spatuletail is a rare bird, threatened by deforestation for marijuana and coffee plantations. The male is hunted for its heart that is believed to have aphrodisiac properties. The species is currently listed as Endangered. Image credits: Max Waugh

Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis): The Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) - also known as Irazu Hummingbird - is a common, medium-sized hummingbird that occurs naturally in in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama. They are usually found in cloud forests at elevations of 1,400 m (4,600 feet) or above; as well as frequenting scrub at the woodland edges and clearings. Image credits: Mauro Roman

Violet-Crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica): The Violet-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica) - a common Central and South American hummingbird - is also known as the Purple-crowned Woodnymph, Blue-crowned Woodnymph, Citado Woodnymph, Colombian Woodnymph, Crowned Woodnymph and Emerald-bellied Wood Nymph. It is closely related to the Mexican Woodnymph (Thalurania ridgwayi) and Green-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania fannyi) - all of which were formerly lumped together as the Crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica); however, they are now considered separate species. Image credits: stevetaboneblog.com

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna): This hardy little bird is a permanent resident along our Pacific Coast, staying through the winter in many areas where no other hummingbirds are present. More vocal than most hummingbirds, males have a buzzy song, often given while perched. In recent decades the species has expanded its range, probably helped along by flowers and feeders in suburban gardens; it now nests north to British Columbia and east to Arizona. Image credits: Good-e-Nuf

Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus): This hummingbird is frequently found in montane forest understory and edge, ravines, areas around streams, as well as disturbed wooded areas and old second growth. It also often forages in banana plantations. From southern Mexico to western Panama, the Violet Sabrewing can be found at higher elevations, between 1,500 to 2,200 m, but it may descend to lower elevations after the breeding season. This large hummingbird is generally 15 cm long. Adult males weigh 11.5 g, and females 9.5 g. Image credits: Larry