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Matinee: 'Wild Birds Revealed'
19 September 2026
Saturday matinees long ago let us escape from the ordinary world to the island of the Swiss Family Robinson or the mutinous decks of the Bounty. Why not, we thought, escape the usual fare here with Saturday matinees of our favorite photography films?
So we're pleased to present the 674th in our series of Saturday matinees today: Wild Birds Revealed.
This 8:18 presentation from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology promises to make you "completely rethink how a bird can fly." And to do that, it relies on wildlife photographers Tim and Russell Laman as they capture hummingbird behavior in the deserts of Southern California.
Using a unique wingbeat, a hummingbird is able to suspend itself in midair, getting into position to feed on a nectar only available to their long beak. Its heart beats up to 900 times per minute as it flaps its wings over 50 times a second in a pattern more like insects more than other birds.
This video on hummingbirds including the rose-pink Anna's Hummingbird and the velvety purple Costa's Hummingbird begins the second season of the series Wild Birds Revealed, which will present four episodes, culminating in a live event with the Lamans.
They share a few tips on capturing shots of these birds that move at 25 miles an hour and have, consequently, no fear of humans. You'll also pick up a little advice about what to plant to attract the birds.
OM System sponsors the series that features the Lamans' still photos and slow-motion camera work. The still images they captured for this episode were created with the OM-1 Mark II and M.Zuiko 160-400mm f4.5 with a TC 1.25x teleconverter.