This image features a female White-booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii), photographed at La Minga Ecolodge in the highland cloud forests of Dapa, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Perched gracefully on a moss-draped branch, this tiny hummingbird displays her subtle beauty—an iridescent green back, soft white underparts, and her distinctive white leg puffs that give the species its name. Although the males carry elaborate tail feathers, the female’s simplicity is elegant and equally photogenic.
I used the Canon EOS R5 with the RF 800mm f/11 IS STM lens and the 1.4x Extender to compose this shot. The image was made at 1/180 second, f/6.7, ISO 800—settings that allowed me to manage the low ambient light of the montane understory while still preserving detail. The bird is framed cleanly against a soft green backdrop, with just enough separation to give her a sense of dimension while keeping the focus on her plumage and posture. The branch curves through the frame like a natural compositional guide.
Photographing hummingbirds in the Andes demands both patience and strategy. I waited quietly at the edge of a clearing, letting the birds grow accustomed to my presence. This female paused just long enough for a single clean frame, her gaze alert but calm. The diffuse mountain light softened the contrast, letting the natural colors of her feathers shine without harsh glare.
This species, found across Andean elevations, is a visual highlight of any birding trip in western Colombia. For me, the image captures more than just a species—it reflects the serenity and fragility of its habitat and the unique satisfaction of documenting it with compact, purpose-built gear.
©2025 Adam Rainoff Photographer
