Reader Doris Finch shares this picture and story:
Here is a curiosity; I noticed a struggling hummingbird [turned out to be an adult female Allen's] in a backyard Lantana. On trying to free it, the "branch" it was stuck on came off with it. Oops! A mantis, which had apparently struck out at the bird. Looking for a hearty lunch? A couple of tiny feathers were stuck in the mandible. Not a high quality shot, but the best I could manage with my free right hand. I didn't want to keep the birdlet in that stressful situation too long. End of story, bird was fine, she buzzed off. The mantis was set down in a fuchsia in another location.
Actually, in the higher-res version (which we don't think makes it online) you can distinctly see a couple of feathers in the mantis' mandible. That's one ambitious (and hungry) insect!
