Lafresnaya flavicaudata (Buff-tailed Velvet-breast)

John Gould and H.C. Richter

National Gallery of Art

A group of hummingbirds and orchid flowers are depicted against a soft, pale background. The hummingbirds display shades of green, blue, and orange, with dark feathers accentuating their bodies, while the flowers are pink and white with a yellow center. One hummingbird hovers to the left of the composition, facing an orchid with its wings outstretched. Two other birds are positioned on the right, nestled among long green leaves, with one perched on a stem and another appearing to fly towards a flower. The green leaves and stems of the orchid plants curve throughout the image.