battle scars Black-chinned Hummingbird female neck injury 2019 08 08 (1)
Some hummingbirds swiftly and brutally stab other birds with their long narrow beaks, usually while swirling together vertically in flight. Some attackers have been observed rocketing out of a hiding spot to jab another bird, usually seated at a feeder claimed by the aggressor. The few Hummingbirds that claim feeding areas do so for a relatively short time, days or weeks. These birds are not long-term residents and different varieties (with different levels of aggressive behaviors) are fairly unpredictable visitors throughout the warm months. Luckily, these combative situations are not common. Real contact is usually accompanied by loud thuds, whistles or such. More frequently, birds swirl around like a double helix at a safe distance from each other. I have not seen them attacked by another kind of bird, although they often do threatening flying around Lesser Goldfinches and others, with no contact.
battle scars Black-chinned Hummingbird female neck injury 2019 08 08 (1)
Some hummingbirds swiftly and brutally stab other birds with their long narrow beaks, usually while swirling together vertically in flight. Some attackers have been observed rocketing out of a hiding spot to jab another bird, usually seated at a feeder claimed by the aggressor. The few Hummingbirds that claim feeding areas do so for a relatively short time, days or weeks. These birds are not long-term residents and different varieties (with different levels of aggressive behaviors) are fairly unpredictable visitors throughout the warm months. Luckily, these combative situations are not common. Real contact is usually accompanied by loud thuds, whistles or such. More frequently, birds swirl around like a double helix at a safe distance from each other. I have not seen them attacked by another kind of bird, although they often do threatening flying around Lesser Goldfinches and others, with no contact.