Hummingbirds may look fragile and delicate, but this one is here to tell you that she is tough as nails. I photographed her this morning at Wildcat Park between Manhattan and Keats KS. She seemed to be flying normally and feeding. When I got home and looked at the pictures I was shocked to see that she has a very deformed bill and seems to be missing her left eye. I had a virtual conversation with a hummingbird expert, and she thinks that this must be some sort of developmental problem; if so, that means that this Ruby-throated Hummingbird came out of the nest looking like this.

Nevertheless, she persisted.

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