Courtship is in the air...

this morning as a mating pair of black-chinned hummingbirds (Archilochus alexandri) engage in their ritual swooping. Here's the male taking a break from his vigorous aerobatics in a cottonwood tree (click to enlarge):

And here's the coquettish and (thus far) unimpressed female watching the aerial maneuvers of her suitor from some rabbitbrush:

It's a regular wild kingdom around here. Good luck, buddy!

UPDATE: More about hummingbird courtship dives.