Hummingbirds are known for their incredibly fast wing beats and amazing aerial abilities. Watching them zoom around flowers and get into midair “dogfights” over feeders, it’s tempting to think they’re just playing around. But is that really the case? Do hummingbirds truly play games and chase each other for fun? Or are their midair battles driven by more serious motivations?
What does “play” mean for animals?
Play behavior in animals involves activities that don’t seem to serve an immediate purpose like finding food or mating. Play is voluntary, repetitive, and pleasurable. It may help young animals develop useful skills for survival. In many mammals and some bird species, play helps build social bonds. But since we can’t ask hummingbirds why they chase each other, it’s impossible to know if they feel playful emotions.
Scientists define play based on objective criteria, like using exaggerated motions and performing an activity repeatedly without needing to. For example, otters will slide down slopes over and over, even when they don’t have anywhere to go. Many animals also make hand gestures or facial expressions associated with play, such as a “play face” with an open mouth.
Why do hummingbirds chase each other?
Hummingbird courtship displays look very similar to aerial chases. Males compete to mate with females through impressive dives, climbs, and synchronized flying. Dominant males will also chase rivals away from their preferred nectar sources. These battles establish feeding territories that give the winner first access to flowers when they refill with nectar.
Like courtship, fights involve sudden direction changes and daring maneuvers. The birds face each other during these interactions and may make physical contact by interlocking feet or pecking. The similarities between courtship, fighting, and casual chasing make it hard to determine a hummingbird’s motivation. The context of the interaction provides some clues.
Courtship chases
Courtship in hummingbirds happens in the spring. Males perform aerial shows to impress females. They fly in loops, dives, and dramatic ascents to show off their flying skills, feathers, and fitness. If a female seems interested, the male may chase her in fast horizontal laps or by flying in a pendulum motion to keep up with her turns.
Courtship chases are part of mating behavior rather than play. They help the male demonstrate his flying abilities and maneuverability. Females observe these chases to assess a male as a potential mate.
Territorial chases
Hummingbirds are aggressive defenders of flowering plants and feeders. They establish feeding territories to ensure reliable access to nectar. A male will chase other hummingbirds that approach his territory. He’ll also fight off intruders trying to feed on his flowers.
Territorial defense occurs year-round, whenever food sources are limited. Chases are direct and aggressive, without elaborate aerial displays. The birds make sharp jabs and bites during these fights. The fierce behavior shows their motivation is gaining food access, not play.
Potential play chases
While courtship and territorial defense account for many hummingbird interactions, some chases don’t clearly fit these categories. In particular, young fledglings seem to spend a lot of time simply chasing each other.
Fledgling hummingbirds have left the nest and are learning to feed themselves. This stage lasts about a month before they become independent. During this time, they may playfully interact with siblings. One young bird will initiate a chase, and another will follow along for a short distance before breaking off.
These bouts incorporate exaggerated movements – sudden stops, rapid turns, and climbing high before quickly diving down. They happen randomly throughout the day instead of during typical courting hours. And they don’t end with conflict or one bird gaining control of a feeding area. The back-and-forth nature instead suggests excitement and engagement on both sides.
Some researchers propose these fledgling chases help develop the birds’ flying skills for capturing prey and escaping predators. The sessions may also strengthen social bonds between siblings. But it’s impossible to definitively know if the birds play for fun, or simply instinctively practice survival skills. Either way, the exercise benefits them as they mature.
Unique Features of Hummingbird Chases
Hummingbird chases include acrobatic moves no other birds can perform. Here are some of their most incredible midair behaviors:
Lightning-fast speed
Hummingbirds are the fastest birds relative to their size. They can hover in place by rapidly beating their wings up to 80 times per second. In forward flight, they’ve been clocked at over 30 body lengths per second – think a 6-foot-tall human running over 180 miles per hour!
This speed enables complex chases. Hummingbirds can change directions instantly and accelerate faster than our eyes can track. Even in slow motion, it’s challenging to follow their trajectories as they whiz past each other.
Extreme agility
Hummingbirds also have exceptional aerial agility thanks to their small size and unique wings. Their bone and muscle structure allows rotating the wings not just forward and backward but also up and down. This lets them control their flying in three dimensions – up/down, forward/backward, and side-to-side.
So they can perform tight flips, rolls, and turns midair. During a chase, they’ll precisely maneuver beak-to-tail only inches apart from each other while traveling at full throttle. This takes immense strength and coordination.
Dramatic dive displays
One signature move male hummingbirds do is a steep dive along an arc path. At the bottom of the arc just feet from the ground, they’ll pull up rapidly. This displays incredible G-forces resisting the downward plunge. Females watch these dives during courtship to judge a male’s fitness. Chasing females may also spur males to perform more risky dives.
Synchronized flying
Hummingbird pairs can skillfully match each other’s speed and position with split-second precision. One bird will lead, while the other maintains perfect formation like an aerial dance. Pairs may also face each other while flying and precisely mirror any movement one makes. This synchronization requires intense focus and reactions.
Do hummingbirds get tired from chasing?
With all their chasing, darting, and dive-bombing, hummingbirds sure look like they’re having fun zipping around. But in reality, those activities require immense energy.
High cost of flight
Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of all animals relative to their size. The smaller the hummingbird species, the faster its metabolism. For example, the bee hummingbird’s heart beats over 1,200 times per minute even while resting.
This intense metabolism powers their constant hovering and lightning-fast maneuvers. But it comes at a steep price – hummingbirds must consume enormous quantities of calories. Their high-energy lifestyle brings them close to starvation. Each day, they need half their body weight in nectar just to survive.
This suggests hummingbird chases aren’t games – they allow males to show off and defend resources critical to their survival. Play that wasted precious energy could be extremely risky.
Frequent feeding
Given their extreme metabolism, hummingbirds can’t afford to go long between meals. They eat every 10-15 minutes on average, visiting hundreds of flowers daily. Males vigorously chase rivals from feeders so they can refuel often to maintain their energy level.
If chases caused excessive fatigue, the birds could lose their territories and starve. So despite their boisterous behavior, hummingbirds likely don’t overexert themselves unnecessarily. Their dining schedule keeps them fueled for essential activities.
Torpor resting state
To conserve calories overnight or when food is scarce, hummingbirds can enter torpor. This is like hibernation – their metabolic rate slows to a fraction of normal, and body temperature drops. They may start cooling off an hour before sunset in preparation.
Torpor allows hummingbirds to rest when they can’t actively feed. If play chases did drain their resources, torpor would provide a necessary recovery period. But the fact that torpor occurs only in specific conditions indicates chasing doesn’t cause dangerous exhaustion.
How can you distinguish playful chasing from other types?
Hummingbird chases that look like aerial games may actually serve more serious purposes like courtship or territorial defense. But certain traits can help suggest when hummingbirds are playing:
Age of participants
Younger hummingbirds are more likely to playfully interact than adults. Fledglings chase their siblings in exuberant zig-zags seemingly for fun. Adult territorial battles tend to follow more predictable direct paths.
Time of occurrence
Hummingbirds display courtship behavior at peak mating times. These evenly-matched chases will occur early morning and late afternoon when females are fertile. Play could happen at any time of day.
Location
Chases related to courtship and territory will center around prime food sources. If a chase occurs far from feeders between well-fed birds, that points to play behavior rather than competition.
Intensity
Play chases tend to appear exciting yet light-hearted, with the pursued bird staying just ahead without needing evasive maneuvers. Serious battles involve direct confrontation and attempts to force the opponent away.
Role switching
When birds take turns leading and following, it suggests a social game. Both enjoy the interaction. In courtship and fights, the dominant bird leads and pursues while the subordinate flees.
Repetition
Play involves repeating an activity simply for enjoyment. Hummingbirds that chase each other in quick bursts then return to start again are likely playing rather than serious territorial disputes.
Body language
Playful animals often adopt silly postures, such as facing backward or flipping upside-down. Hummingbirds feeling playful may show non-functional moves or poses unrelated to courtship.
So while we can’t know for certain why hummingbirds chase, their body language and behavior offer clues about whether it’s play or other innate behaviors like fighting and mating. Watching them interact provides fascinating insights into the lives of these energetic aerialists.
Conclusion
Hummingbird chases certainly look playful as they buzz past each other performing daring maneuvers. But most experts believe they serve important biological purposes like courtship displays or defending nectar supplies.
Distinguishing true play from these behaviors is tricky. However, young fledglings chasing each other with no signs of aggression or courtship provide the strongest evidence that hummingbirds may at times chase just for fun.
While they probably don’t play as much as we imagine, hummingbirds likely enjoy some playful antics, especially as juveniles developing their flying skills. Chasing others probably brings mental stimulation and joy beyond simply foraging all day. So the next time you see hummingbirds zipping wildly around your yard, there’s a chance they’re at least partly engaging in play.
