December 19, 2006: Hummingbird turf war

Undertoad · 12-19-2006, 07:36 AM

xoB spots this awesome set of three on Weather Underground, by a gent who goes by motoshutter there.

They're beautiful birds, these Anna's Hummingbirds. The Wikipedia entry says "They are very territorial" and motoshutter has documented that here. They start with the above aerial display...

And end up locked in mortal combat on the ground, trying to spear each other with their beaks. At this point motoshutter kind of breaks them up, and they take to air combat again;

And this proud laddie takes the battle and wins the ground, and stares down the loser until he flies away in defeat.

Griff · 12-19-2006, 07:50 AM

They are fun to watch. Imagine F-16 speeds with helicopter manuverability. Except much better.

Sheldonrs · 12-19-2006, 08:00 AM

I wonder if they were humming the music from "West Side Story".

Shawnee123 · 12-19-2006, 08:30 AM

lol@Sheldon:

Yeah, snapping their wings as they circle each other...:p

xoxoxoBruce · 12-19-2006, 03:39 PM

I've heard a lot of people say they're like midgets on meth, real aggressive, because their metabolism is so high they have to eat often.

[Hbird] No, I'm not waiting my turn.....nectar NOW! [Hbird]

mandos · 12-19-2006, 04:08 PM

We had these birds at my house in Southern California where I grew up. They are very aggressive to other hummingbirds. It's actually fun to watch, they'll do this aerial joust sort of thing where they each rise up vertically to 50 or more feet and then dive down in a J shape and go right at each other. I've never seen them colide so I assume they're just trying to peck each other in passing, but they go FAST! Very flashy and a bit mean to one another.

(Hi, I'm a long time reader here, just never posted. Suggested a few images before though.

)

capnhowdy · 12-19-2006, 08:28 PM

Beautiful. They won't be still long enough to get a good look at 'em.
The ones around here are all green headed.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-19-2006, 10:05 PM

Hi Mandos. Didn't hurt at all, did it.......and next time it won't seem hardly perverted at all.

Oh, and thanks for the IOtD suggestions.

Karenv · 12-20-2006, 01:49 AM

I am in New Orleans doing rescue work. People tell me that they haven't seen hummingbirds since Katrina hit. (Along with frogs and a few other kritters.)

SPUCK · 12-20-2006, 06:04 AM

They also don't notice us since we are just not in their size range. If I'm standing on my porch with my head 2 feet from the feeder they completely ignore me. You can watch them close up.

Sundae · 12-20-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

...midgets on meth, real aggressive...

I did not need that image in my head!

Now I'm scared to go out in the fog in case vertically challenged substance abusers are roaming the streets headbutting kneecaps for drug money

Sarasvati48 · 12-20-2006, 12:33 PM

I spend a lot of time all year round, sitting on my deck, watching the hummingbird dog fights over the feeder. They come pretty close to my head, and it's amazing that they don't fly into me. When I'm refilling the feeder(when it's empty, they hover, looking at me thru the kitchen garden window, and the patio door)they buzz all around my head with impatience...

Shawnee123 · 12-20-2006, 04:02 PM

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

12-19-2006, 07:36 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	December 19, 2006: Hummingbird turf war xoB spots this awesome set of three on Weather Underground, by a gent who goes by motoshutter there. They're beautiful birds, these Anna's Hummingbirds. The Wikipedia entry says "They are very territorial" and motoshutter has documented that here. They start with the above aerial display... And end up locked in mortal combat on the ground, trying to spear each other with their beaks. At this point motoshutter kind of breaks them up, and they take to air combat again; And this proud laddie takes the battle and wins the ground, and stares down the loser until he flies away in defeat.

12-19-2006, 07:50 AM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	They are fun to watch. Imagine F-16 speeds with helicopter manuverability. Except much better. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-19-2006, 08:00 AM	#3
Sheldonrs Master Dwellar Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,412	I wonder if they were humming the music from "West Side Story". __________________ Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and the world laughs AT you.

12-19-2006, 08:30 AM	#4
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	lol@Sheldon: Yeah, snapping their wings as they circle each other...:p __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

12-19-2006, 03:39 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I've heard a lot of people say they're like midgets on meth, real aggressive, because their metabolism is so high they have to eat often. [Hbird] No, I'm not waiting my turn.....nectar NOW! [Hbird] __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-19-2006, 04:08 PM	#6
mandos Kinda New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1	Anna's Hummingbirds We had these birds at my house in Southern California where I grew up. They are very aggressive to other hummingbirds. It's actually fun to watch, they'll do this aerial joust sort of thing where they each rise up vertically to 50 or more feet and then dive down in a J shape and go right at each other. I've never seen them colide so I assume they're just trying to peck each other in passing, but they go FAST! Very flashy and a bit mean to one another. (Hi, I'm a long time reader here, just never posted. Suggested a few images before though. )

12-19-2006, 08:28 PM	#7
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	Beautiful. They won't be still long enough to get a good look at 'em. The ones around here are all green headed. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

12-19-2006, 10:05 PM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Hi Mandos. Didn't hurt at all, did it.......and next time it won't seem hardly perverted at all. Oh, and thanks for the IOtD suggestions. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-20-2006, 01:49 AM	#9
Karenv Slacker Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 144	I am in New Orleans doing rescue work. People tell me that they haven't seen hummingbirds since Katrina hit. (Along with frogs and a few other kritters.)

12-20-2006, 06:04 AM	#10
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	They also don't notice us since we are just not in their size range. If I'm standing on my porch with my head 2 feet from the feeder they completely ignore me. You can watch them close up.

12-20-2006, 12:33 PM	#12
Sarasvati48 Mystical Miscreant Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 46	Hummers... I spend a lot of time all year round, sitting on my deck, watching the hummingbird dog fights over the feeder. They come pretty close to my head, and it's amazing that they don't fly into me. When I'm refilling the feeder(when it's empty, they hover, looking at me thru the kitchen garden window, and the patio door)they buzz all around my head with impatience...

12-20-2006, 04:02 PM	#13
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

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