A couple of hummingbirds!

The male hummingbirds are known as the jewels of the Amazon. They mesmerize you with their delightful color display, while the females usually have a more humble appearance. I managed to take a close up picture of 3 pairs of hummers.

Hummingbirds are tiny agile energetic birds. They are the only birds who can fly in all different directions and also stay at one place while flying. I was able to see at least 20 hummingbird species. Of some I manage to meet both male and female, but so far only 3 pairs let me get as close as possible. The males have the most wonderful color display I have ever seen. They are needed to be seen during mating season, because then the competition is on. 
On the other hand: females 'wear' a more sober color. Since they do all the hard work after mating: nest building, incubating and taking care of the young, it is needed that they are not too visible for potential predators.

Fork-tailed Woodnymph (Thalurania furcata): 
Since the beginning, 2009, I met these tiny energetic wonders at Kabalebo. I see them on a daily basis, so they are likely residents of Kabalebo. The male, left, is the proud owner of a green/purplish uniform. The female on the other hand, green/light grey uniform, doesn't care that much about looks.

Rufous-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis sapphirina):
Smaller than the Fork-tailed Woodnymph, but an even better color display. The female, in front, looks almost similar to the Fork-tailed Woodnymph, but a closer look you can see a dark red mandible. 

Crimson Topaz (Topaza pella):
The proudest amongst all hummingbirds. The Crimson Topaz is the most colorful and also the largest hummingbird in Kabalebo. 

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Crimson Topaz at very close range!