Capturing a Male Rufous-tailed Hummingbird with the Canon R5 and RF 100-500mm Lens

adamrainoff — Sat, 09 May 2026 00:20:58 GMT

High in the Andean foothills at Mirador Barlovento above Pradera in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, this male Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) perched calmly on a slender branch in soft late-afternoon light. With the bird relaxed and still I was able to work at a comfortable 3.5 meters without any disturbance.

The R5 paired with the RF 100-500mm lens extended to 500mm gave me the exact reach I needed. The camera automatically selected 1/250 second at f/6.7 for beautiful subject isolation and creamy bokeh while I dialed ISO 800 to maintain clean files and maximum image quality in the fading light. The combination delivered tack-sharp detail on every iridescent green scale, the vivid red bill, and the warm rufous tail feathers while preserving the gentle natural atmosphere of the scene.

This setup continues to prove why the R5 and RF 100-500mm have become my go-to system for ethical conservation fieldwork in remote locations.

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Capturing a Male Rufous-tailed Hummingbird with the Canon R5 and RF 100-500mm Lens