Notice the hummer spearing another in the head, amazingly I have never seen a hummer seriously hurt from the sparring although I imagine they could be. I certainly hear the sound of their airborne impacts, and see the missing and displaced feathers.
This guy is waiting to spear the guy from above who is about to attack him! Hummingbirds move incredibly quickly, but when they are in attack mode they move at warp-speed.
You can see evidence of the airborne impacts in the ruffled feathers.
Some seem disproportionately harassed.
Others position themselves for advantangeous attack!
The majority though avoid the fray and remain untouched. I suspect their aerial evasion techniques are even more evolved than their attack skills. They are simply phenomonal fliers.
This is of course how I prefer to see the hummers! Peaceful and radiant.
Cheers to you from the occasionally bickersome, but always beautiful, Holler Hummers~
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Such vibrant, beautiful photos. 🙂
Danke schoen!
Ok, Cuz…, I had a ruby throat that came to the yard/flowers every day…, until I put out a feeder. Haven’t seen him/her for weeks now. Did I offend it or something??? Your pics of the hummers alre always a study in detail and are beautiful. 🙂
I’m stumped…Are you mixing sugar with water, 1/4 ratio? Are you using a standard feeder? You can put some drops of red food dye into the mixture until the birds find and start using your feeder and then stop the dye as it is better for the birdies.
🙂 You’ve done a great job capturing these fast-moving little beauties!! I had no idea they were so aggressive!!!
I’m sorry to be the one who had to break it to you! 😉 😉
wonderful and stunning post/pix, as usually… 🙂 I did have a couple of “colibris” in Houston, TX…
these ones are from Costa Rica: 🙂
http://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/tendre-et-gracieux-colibri-costa-ricain/
Oh I love the poem and photo and the different colors! Lovely~
Cindy – You are an amazing photographer. Those hummers almost popped off my screen. I still have to coax the hummers here. I believe I’m doing everything possible, including have the hummer misters going day and night both in front and out back. The lavender and wild flowers took a heavy hit this past winter but I’ve replanted everything. Now I’m playing the waiting game.
Oh I hope you are successful! I know you have a lot of bird knowlelge so there can’t be a problem with your technique. Hope they start sippin’ soon! Good luck~
I had no idea that they had ‘behavioural problems’, Cindy! Such tiny and beautiful creatures being aggressive seems so strange. Thank you for sharing, again 🙂
Looks can be deceiving can’t they!! 😉
A veritable birds paradise.
Yes, and I feel like one of the birds!!! lol!
Wow! So well captured!
Merci beucoup!
Hummingbirds are quite territorial. Beautiful catches!!!!
Yes they are and thank you!
Oh Cindy, these are so beautiful. Back in California I always had many hummingbirds in my hedge of Lavender. They are magnificent!
They are pretty special little birdies! Thank you Lea and bonjour!
My pleasure Cindy. I do have a soft spot for the little birdies… Bonjour et merci beaucoup!
<3 <3 <3
Fantastic photos!
Merci beaucoup mon ami
Beautiful captures, Cindy. They’re so difficult to photograph, but you do such a great job. 🙂
You are just nice! Thank you~
Wow, who woulda thought?! I have a couple of cats that behave that way with the others! And I thought those little hummingbirds were all such sweeties! Beautiful pictures, Cindy.
Laughing….looks as most of us know can be most deceiving!
Some STUNNING captures!
Awwww so thoughtful and so appreciated!
They are incredible~
Amazing photos. Thank you!
I did not know hummingbirds would be so vicious to each other. That must have hurt getting speared in the head. Beautiful pictures.
Merci beaucoup! I have never seen a hummingbirds get seriously hurt from the sparring, which does not mean it doesn’t happen. I have seen hummingbirds hurt by flying into a window in the middle of their sparring but they recovered.
what a fresh framing of these altogether stellar birdeez. The intricate detail–as noted by thoughtful caption–really added to the “in the eye” of the storm feeling. I had no idea they speared each other, though I suppose that makes good sense. And this from a woman with 2 silo sized feeders…
aside: I have the 2 giganter feeders since they ARE so territorial about the feeders, as if the silo isn’t enough for the tiny fellas–and notice when I go outside to use my Stairmaster, or just read on the patio, the less dominant birds try to cadge drinks then–but the itinerant bird is quick to chase ’em off, even if he/she then won’t linger to eat…
sometimes they are all very bold, and will stay in handfuls when I work out…
really great post. You could BE Google for nature, I swear…
Wait! I am stuck on the concept that your stair master is outside. What genius! how come I never thought of this? We have a exercise room, that is also my husband’s wine storage room. I NEVER go in this room. What a concept to move the eliptical trainer OUTSIDE! I might actually use it! Plus the hummers would get a kick out of it. I want to come to your house and take a photo series of you on your stairmaster with the hummers! Priceless~
Oooooh, I am sending this comment to my hubby for a honey-do request!!! He seems skeptical, but I am not. It will amuse the wildlife and me as well!!! 😉
They are such beautiful little birds. I have never known them to have an aggressive streak though :O
These are wonderful pictures, Cindy. Thank you for sharing.
Vijay
Pretty packages can be somewhat deceiving can’t they? So happy you enjoyed!
I liked this because it shows us a different side. We tend to think of hummingbirds as fragile. The images though show they are anything but.
That is exactly right. I can’t help but love tiny little creatures that can migrate 1000’s of miles and have personalities to match! Tough little buggers~
Cindy….so so beautiful!! I was entranced! 🙂
Well then, I am happy! Thank you~
I pretty much am their slave! Their feeders are at my computer table so I am with them a lot!!! 😉
Love it!!!
Mercy, I had NO IDEA hummers were so wild!! We rarely see more than two at a time at our feeder, so all appears calm. Thanks for capturing another side of nature!
I am happy you enjoyed and yes they may be small but they have outsize personalities!
Wow, fantastic action sequences! Who knew they are quarrelsome birds? They look so dainty and peaceful, usually.
They devote a lot of energy to quarreling! Some humans are like this………Laughing!
Indeed! 🙂
It is hard to ‘like’ when birds are fighting, but it is all part of nature! You caught such a dynamic scene! Smiles, Robin
They have this blustering they do, but they all manage to eat peacefully at times and I have yet to see a serious injury….Still they love their drama!!!
What wonderful sharp photos of these lovely birds – like the storyline
Then I am glad I posted! <3
Birds can be really aggressive with one another. The other day, I saw three magpies laying into another of their kind in mid-flight, scattering feathers everywhere. They were making such a din, too.
Yes! In Australia I saw Lorikeets going after another Keet that had it’s foot tangled in twine. The violence can be shocking and seems unadaptive~
Beautiful pictures Cindy! And I can just imagine that warp speed, they are very fast little birds, probably where some of the ideas for fairies came from, I believe they have the ability of warp speed too!! 😉
Well of course fairies can do anything…….come to think of it, probably hummingbirds can too!!! 😉
Beautiful photos
Thank you for following! You have beautiful images here, I have never seen a hummingbird myself, precious little things, why they have to fight so fiercely?
Welcome! Ornithologists would say they are territorial. I suspect they just fly so well they love the challenge. I am in awe of your photos! Cheers to you and thank you too~
Wow, I had no idea about the combative nature of these stunning creatures! Thank you for sharing the photos and the intriguing information. Peace….
Surprising little guys aren’t they. So curious and unafraid of people out here. I love em!
Wow. nice Shot, Cindy
Thank you Leyla! I’ve been over admiring your fotos just now!! <3
Lovely shots Cindy. I Love hummingbirds.
Much appreciated and cheers to you!
Amazing creatures. I like the fact that they can actually reverse! 😀
I know that is pretty amazing isn’t it!
It sure is. 🙂
YAY YAY YAY HW!!!
Happy you are happy!!!
Wow!! Fantastic shots, thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thank you for the appreciation & cheers to you~
Nice Title
Grazie!