Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures that have captured the hearts and imaginations of people for centuries. Their tiny size, incredible speed, and hover-in-mid-air feeding abilities make them unique in the bird world. Many people put up hummingbird feeders in their yards to attract these energetic birds and enjoy watching their interesting behaviors and interactions. This leads some people to wonder – do hummingbirds actually get attached to or recognize individual humans?
Do hummingbirds bond with humans?
While hummingbirds do not form traditional bonds with humans in the same way many mammals do, there is evidence that they can become accustomed and comfortable around the people who frequently provide them food and interact positively with them. Here are some key points about the potential for attachment between hummingbirds and humans:
- Hummingbirds have good memories – They are able to remember reliable food sources and return to repeatedly visit productive feeders.
- They learn feeding schedules – Hummingbirds can learn when a feeder is typically filled and refilled by human caretakers.
- They observe people – Hummingbirds watch when people approach a feeder and make the association between that person and availability of food.
- They exhibit curiosity – Hummingbirds are naturally very curious. They will explore people and seem to enjoy human company at times.
- They get used to regular people – Hummingbirds can become accustomed to seeing the same caretakers regularly around their preferred feeding locations.
Based on these factors, many people feel that the hummingbirds frequenting their yard feeders do become attached and look forward to their interactions with familiar humans who care for them. The birds may not feel affection toward people in the sentimental way we attach to other humans or pets, but they come to rely on certain individuals for sustenance and safety in their territory.
Do hummingbirds remember humans?
Multiple observations indicate that hummingbirds have decent memories and can remember different humans they regularly encounter. Here are some of the top reasons why many experts believe hummingbirds have the ability to remember people:
- Recognize their caretaker’s face – They seem to know and trust the familiar person who cleans and refills their feeder.
- Remember feeding routines – Hummingbirds learn when their caretaker typically visits to feed them.
- Associate people with food rewards – They know certain people provide them food while others do not.
- Allow close interaction with trusted humans – Hummingbirds will hover near, land on hands, and perch on heads/shoulders of familiar caretakers.
- Unafraid of routine maintenance – They remain calm and unfazed when accustomed caretakers do regular feeder cleaning/filling.
- Wary of strangers – They exhibit more caution around unknown people compared to their familiar caretakers.
Many hummingbird experts advise that the same individuals handle the birds’ daily feedings and maintenance routines consistently. This helps the hummingbirds to better recognize and form positive associations with their caretakers. Over time, the tiny birds see familiar faces repeatedly caring for their essential needs.
Do hummingbirds recognize individual people?
Careful observations by avian researchers and devoted hummingbird enthusiasts indicate that the birds likely have some capacity to distinguish familiar individual people from strangers or less frequent visitors to their environments. Here are some key indicators that hummingbirds can identify different individual humans:
- Act cautious around unfamiliar people
- Hover nearer to their caretakers
- Perch on familiar caretakers but not strangers
- Remember which people typically refill their feeders
- Make direct contact with regular caretakers but avoid others
- Display territorial behavior toward unfamiliar people
- Alter behavior when caretaker changes clothes/appearance
- Visit feeders frequently when caretaker is present
- Appear startled if caretaker looks different
These types of observations suggest that hummingbirds can distinguish between their familiar caretakers who bring food and fresh water versus strangers who are infrequent visitors. They rely on these individual humans and feel safest interacting closely with their regular caretakers.
Why do hummingbirds approach some humans?
There are a few key reasons why hummingbirds are motivated to overcome their natural wariness and actively approach certain people to make direct contact:
- They associate that person with food – If someone reliably feeds them, the hummingbirds learn to recognize them as a food source.
- They feel safe with that individual – Familiar caretakers are seen as safe and trusted.
- To investigate – Hummingbirds are very curious and like to hover near and inspect humans up close.
- To play – Occasionally they seem to interact and play with their favorite humans.
- Territorial behavior – Males may investigate or display aggression toward unknown visitors.
With their regular caretakers that they recognize and trust, hummingbirds seem to enjoy hovering around and briefly landing on them. Especially tame and gregarious individuals may perch on heads, hands, fingers, shoulders, knees or feet. They occasionally sip from people’s water bottles or drink from water cupped in caretakers’ hands.
Do hummingbirds get attached to other animals?
In addition to growing accustomed to human caretakers who provide them food, hummingbirds sometimes form attachments to other companion animals that frequent their environments such as dogs, cats, and horses. Here are some examples of interactions that demonstrate hummingbirds can learn to trust and feel comfortable around familiar non-human animals:
- Hover around dogs, cats, or horses while they are nearby the birds’ feeders
- Feed calmly when those animals are close by
- Allow dogs, cats or horses to sniff them up close
- Perch briefly on the heads or backs of friendly dogs and horses
- Interact with water droplets from splashing or spilled water bowls
- Follow moving animals traveling past their feeders
- Perch on fence posts or structures near companion animals
Based on their natural curiosity and tendency to explore anything new in their environments, hummingbirds often exhibit interest in friendly companion animals near their territory. If those animals prove to not be a threat, the tiny birds seem willing to trust them and get close to investigate.
Do hummingbirds like some humans more than others?
Certain individual hummingbirds demonstrate clear preferences for specific humans who have gained their trust and formed a bond over time. These hummingbirds display more affectionate behavior with their favorite people who they recognize and rely upon to care for their essential needs. Here are some ways hummingbirds show they prefer particular humans over others:
- Only hover close or perch on specific people they know well
- Interact more with their primary caretaker
- Eat from only their caretaker’s hand
- Follow preferred people around the yard
- Become agitated if a stranger tries to get near them
- Make direct contact with favorite people but avoid unknown visitors
- Return frequently to their special human companion
Developing a close bond with one special hummingbird over many repeated interactions helps some caretakers gain the trust and preference of that individual bird. The hummingbird sees that human as a reliable food source and safe companion to interact closely with in its environment.
Can losing their human caretaker traumatize a hummingbird?
There is some anecdotal evidence that hummingbirds can experience something akin to grief, loss or trauma if their trusted human companion who cared for them disappears or stops visiting regularly. Some potential signs a hummingbird misses their former caretaker include:
- Visiting locations the caretaker used to frequent
- Seeming to search for the missing person
- Making mournful-sounding vocalizations
- Avoiding new people attempting to feed them
- Loss of appetite or reduced feeding
- Lethargy, listlessness or depressed activity
- Abandoning their formerly frequented feeding territory
Since hummingbirds rely on their learned associations connecting certain humans with the food and care they need to survive, losing their primary caretaker can severely disrupt their familiar daily routines. While they may eventually accept new people, the period of transition following the disappearance of a trusted companion seems emotionally difficult based on observed behaviors.
Signs a hummingbird sees someone as a friend
Here are some of the key signs and behaviors that indicate an individual hummingbird likely views a particular human as a trusted friend and companion:
- Getting very close without fear
- Hovering within inches of the person’s face
- Perching on hands, head, knees or shoulders
- Chirping when they see their special human
- Eating from the caretaker’s hand
- Watching the person very closely
- Allowing gentle stroking of their feathers
- Seeking out the company of their favorite person
- Displaying territorial aggression toward strangers getting near their human friend
- Repeatedly and exclusively returning to the same individual
Hummingbirds that freely make physical contact, seek closeness, and demonstrate a high degree of comfort and trust with a particular caretaker likely see that person as a friend. The human has proven through consistent care and positive interactions that they deserve to be part of the tiny bird’s inner circle.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while hummingbirds do not form affectionate bonds with humans to the same capacity as many mammalian pets, they are intelligent, social creatures capable of remembering and distinguishing individual people. Hummingbirds that are regularly cared for and kindly interacted with seem to develop a trusting rapport with their human caretakers over time. Through repeated exposure and reliance on certain individuals for food, the tiny birds learn to associate specific people with nourishment and protection. While further research is still needed, many devoted hummingbird enthusiasts firmly believe the birds see their special human companions as trusted friends.