Every spring our home in the country hosts many tiny visitors who come to nest. Our hummingbird feeders are sometimes so busy that they have to be recharged once a day.

Each of the male hummingbirds have their favourite perches, which they use to survey the feeders, as well as the comings and goings of all the other birds. I have studied these beautiful little birds a lot over the years, and I am always inspired to paint a few small pieces each spring.

This Calliope Hummingbird male, which is the smallest of the three species we get to see where we live, sits against the blue sky on an arching branch – his lookout post. I watched him return again and again while alternately taking turns at the feeder and trying to impress the females.

I create my hummingbird paintings mostly from the memory of studying them through binoculars and sketching.

This painting is oil on exhibition canvas framed with a black shadowbox.