Hummingbirds are some of the smallest and most colorful birds found in nature. Their tiny size and ability to hover in midair as they drink nectar make them unique among birds. Hummingbirds live solitary lives and are aggressive about defending their territory and food sources from other hummingbirds. However, they do tolerate and even form friendships with some other species of birds.
Types of Birds that Befriend Hummingbirds
Certain species are more likely than others to be tolerated or befriended by hummingbirds. These include:
- Orioles
- Woodpeckers
- Tanagers
- Warblers
- Flycatchers
Let’s look at some of the characteristics of these birds that allow them to coexist peacefully with hummingbirds.
Orioles
Like hummingbirds, orioles enjoy drinking nectar. They have long, pointed bills suited for piercing flowers and extracting nectar. Orioles are larger than hummingbirds and not as specialized nectar-drinkers. They eat insects and fruit in addition to nectar. Orioles and hummingbirds don’t compete strongly for food resources, so they tolerate each other.
Orioles sometimes attempt to chase hummingbirds away from nectar sources. But hummingbirds are feisty and won’t give up their feeders easily. The two species often work out a compromise where both can feed in close proximity.
Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers forage for insects hidden in bark and wood. They excavate holes in trees to access this food source. Hummingbirds often appreciate ready-made holes in trees that woodpeckers create. They will perch near these holes to hunt for any insects that might be aroused.
Woodpeckers seem tolerant of hummingbirds following them and making use of their feeding holes. The two species are not competing for the same food items, so they coexist well.
Tanagers
Like hummingbirds, tanagers belong to the Order Passeriformes. They have pointed bills suited to extracting juice from fruits as well as nectar from flowers. Tanagers don’t rely as heavily on nectar as hummingbirds, also eating insects and fruit. This diet diversity allows tanagers to share habitat and food sources with hummingbirds.
Tanagers are often seen visiting nectar feeders along with hummingbirds. Their larger size and more generalized diet mean they are not in direct competition with the smaller, specialized hummingbirds.
Warblers
Warblers forage actively among branches and leaves searching for small insects. Hummingbirds sometimes trail behind actively foraging warblers. They opportunistically snatch any insects flushed out by the movement of the warblers.
This following behavior allows hummingbirds to take advantage of additional food sources. It does not compete directly with the way that warblers find their food. Warblers seem tolerant of hummingbirds following behind them, resulting in a friendly coexistence.
Flycatchers
Like warblers, flycatchers feed extensively on insects, especially those they catch in flight. Hummingbirds opportunistically trailing flycatchers can snatch stirred-up insects without directly competing with the flycatchers.
Hummingbirds also occasionally hawk insects in flight themselves. When a hummingbird and flycatcher are both hawking insects, they generally avoid outright competition by hunting different prey items.
Why These Birds Tolerate Hummingbirds
A couple key factors explain why orioles, woodpeckers, tanagers, warblers, and flycatchers tolerate the presence of hummingbirds:
- They feed on different food sources than hummingbirds, so there is little direct competition.
- Hummingbirds are aggressive in defending nectar sources, so it is easier for other birds to tolerate their presence than to fight them.
- The nectar-drinking species do not solely rely on nectar, reducing competition with hummingbirds.
- Hummingbirds opportunistically take advantage of feeding opportunities created by other species without impeding their foraging.
Do Hummingbirds Form Friendships with Other Species?
Hummingbirds are often described as solitary and territorial. But some interesting observations indicate they may form attachments and even “friendships” with individual birds of other species:
- A male Anna’s hummingbird was observed feeding side-by-side with a female downy woodpecker over a period of weeks in California.
- A rufous hummingbird regularly perched near and interacted with an American robin nest with young under observation in Oregon.
- An Allen’s hummingbird male mated with a female rufous hummingbird, then associated with a young American crow after it lost its mate, following the crow on daily travels.
While these examples are anecdotal, they suggest hummingbirds may form attachments and even affection for individual birds beyond just tolerating their presence.
How Can You Promote Friendships Between Hummingbirds and Other Birds?
To encourage hummingbirds and other bird species to peacefully coexist and even form friendships in your backyard, consider these tips:
- Offer separate nectar feeders for hummingbirds and orioles or tanagers to reduce competition.
- Include a small water feature, which attracts birds of many types.
- Plant a diversity of flowering plants to provide nectar and attract insects that all birds can eat.
- Put up nest boxes suited for species like woodpeckers, flycatchers, and swallows.
- Provide a variety of perches and landing spots so different birds have space.
- Avoid pesticides, which reduce insects and stress bird health.
With a little encouragement, your backyard can become a haven for mixed flocks and friendships between species!
Conclusion
Hummingbirds may seem solitary and aggressive birds. But they do tolerate and even form affable relationships with certain other bird species. Orioles, woodpeckers, tanagers, warblers, and flycatchers are especially likely to be seen mingling and cooperating with hummingbirds.
By providing a diverse range of feeders, flowers, nesting spots, and perches in your yard, you can promote positive interactions between hummingbirds and other species. Pay attention and you might notice the formation of some surprising interspecies friendships!
