Hummingbirds are known for their small size, beautiful plumage, and ability to hover in midair. However, these tiny birds can also exhibit aggressive behavior, especially when defending territory and food sources. There are several reasons why hummingbirds become aggressive.
Protecting Food Sources
Hummingbirds need to eat frequently to maintain their high metabolism. They consume large amounts of nectar and small insects each day. Feeders and flowering plants provide critical food resources for hummingbirds. When multiple hummingbirds attempt to feed from the same source, aggressive behavior often ensues as the birds try to protect their food supply. Dive bombing, vocalizations, chasing, and physical contact are common aggressive displays. Dominant males are especially prone to attacking other hummingbirds that approach “their” feeder or flowers.
Establishing Dominance
Hummingbirds establish a pecking order and dominant birds often aggressively defend their position. In most cases, adult males are the dominant birds. Immature males, females, and juveniles typically suffer more aggression from adult males. Physical features like bright plumage, size, and flashy displays help indicate status and dominance. The dominant birds chase, displace, and even peck subordinate birds to maintain control of food sources and perching areas.
Defending Nest Sites
Hummingbirds aggressively defend the area around their nests against intruders. A nesting female sees other hummingbirds as threats to her eggs and young. She dive bombs and chases away any bird that comes near. Males are also aggressive as they try to attract and mate with females. The males fight off competitors through dramatic dive displays and physical attacks. These behaviors help secure a nesting territory and mating opportunities.
Protecting Wintering Areas
Certain hummingbird species become highly aggressive when defending their winter territories. In migration areas along the Gulf Coast, hundreds of hummingbirds congregate in the same patches of habitat. Dominant males stake out and defend specific nectar-rich trees or feeders. They spend hours dive bombing and chasing other hummingbirds that approach these areas. This behavior ensures access to the limited food sources during the winter months.
Common Aggressive Behaviors
Hummingbirds have a repertoire of intimidating behaviors they use against opponents. Some of the most common aggressive displays include:
Dive Bombing
Dive bombing is one of the most recognizable hummingbird behaviors. In this display, a dominant male flies directly at another bird and then rapidly ascends. Variations of dive bombing include the U-shaped dive and the J-shaped dive. The diving bird may vocalize with sharp chips and tweets. Dive bombing is often done repeatedly to drive an intruder away.
Chasing
Hummingbirds frequently chase other individuals out of defended areas. The dominant bird flies quickly after the subordinate bird until it leaves the space. Chases often combine rapid pursuit with aggressive vocalizations or dive bomb maneuvers.
Displacement
A dominant hummingbird uses its body to physically push or knock another bird away from a food source or perch. The subordinate bird is displaced from the space. Displacement establishes physical dominance and access to the resource.
Fencing
This behavior involves two birds facing each other and fanning their tails. They may also vocalize with squeaks and chips. It’s an aggressive display that sometimes precedes chasing or physical contact. The subordinate bird usually retreats after a fencing display.
Pecking
Physical pecking and biting is common among competing hummingbirds. The dominant bird uses its beak to peck the subordinate on the head, wings or tail. Pecking continues until the subordinate bird leaves. This behavior establishes a clear physical dominance over the other bird.
Factors Leading to Aggression
Certain conditions are more likely to spark aggressive behavior in hummingbirds. Key factors that contribute to aggression include:
Competition over Limited Resources
When food, feeding spaces, or nesting sites are limited, hummingbirds become much more aggressive. They fiercely compete to get their share of resources. Congregated wintering grounds and urban areas with few feeders see higher instances of aggression. Providing multiple dispersed feeders reduces competition.
Breeding Season
Hummingbirds exhibit more aggressive behavior during the breeding season. Males fight for territory and access to females. Females defend their nests against perceived threats. These hormone-fueled behaviors help with mating and rearing young, despite risks of injury.
Arrival of Migrants
In migration corridors, aggression increases when new hummingbirds arrive from the north. The resident birds aggressively defend their established food sources from the migrants. Dominance must be reestablished after the influx of new birds.
Introduction of Feeders
When new feeders are introduced, hummingbirds dive bomb and fight to determine dominance. The feeders are seen as new undefended resources up for grabs. Once a pecking order forms, aggression around the feeders decreases.
Limited Habitat
In areas where natural habitat has declined, the remaining habitat becomes crowded with hummingbirds. This creates more opportunities for conflict and aggression at feeders, flowers, and nest sites within the limited space.
Ways to Reduce Hummingbird Aggression
While some degree of aggression is natural, there are ways to minimize hummingbird skirmishes in your yard:
Provide Multiple Feeders
Having several feeders placed around your yard reduces competition. The hummingbirds can spread out rather than clustering at one area. Use at least one feeder per 2-3 hummingbirds.
Separate Feeders
Set up feeders at least 10-20 feet apart and use visual barriers like bushes or trellises. This breaks up sight lines so the birds feel less need to guard a food source.
Offer Feeder “Timeouts”
Take down feeders for 1-2 days to disrupt aggressive patterns. Then put the feeders back up in new scattered locations. This helps reset territorial behaviors.
Provide Ample Natural Nectar Sources
Planting more native flowers, shrubs, and trees that hummingbirds visit gives them alternate food options besides feeders. This takes pressure off feeder food supplies.
Use Cage-Style Feeders
Caged feeders with multiple feeding ports allow multiple hummingbirds to access nectar while reducing aggression. The cage offers some protection while feeding.
Hold Off on Feeders Early
In migration areas, delay putting out feeders until a week or two after hummingbirds first arrive. This allows them to establish natural food sources first.
Avoid Clustering Bright Red Flowers/Objects
Bright red decor that mimics flowers should be limited as it can draw in many hummingbirds to a small area and spark fights. Disperse red items.
Understanding Hummingbird Behavior
Interpreting hummingbird aggression through the lens of natural behavior can help birders respond appropriately:
Hummingbird Aggression Usually Lasts Only Seconds
These brief bursts of aggression accomplish the goal of protecting resources and communicating dominance. Lengthy attacks trying to injure other birds are uncommon.
Injuries are Infrequent
While dive bombing and pecking seem intense, contact is avoided. Serious injuries are very rare as most actions are bluffs and threats rather than sustained attacks.
Aggressive Behavior is Innate
Hummingbirds are hard-wired for this behavior as a survival strategy. It is instinctive versus an act of anger or malice toward other birds. Understanding the innate drive can prevent perceiving aggression as random meanness.
Hummingbirds Still Feed Together
In between aggressive bouts, hummingbirds can and do feed peacefully in close proximity at flowers and feeders. They know when to tone down aggression to allow feeding.
Hummingbirds Quickly Return to a Peaceful State
Once an altercation ends, hummingbirds rapidly return to perching and feeding. Within seconds their high heart rate lowers and they are ready to drink nectar. This demonstrates aggression is temporary.
Key Facts About Hummingbird Aggression
Aggression Peaks in Early Spring
Spring migration and the onset of breeding season cause aggression to peak in February-April. Food and mates are key triggers.
Males are Often the Aggressors
Adult males initiate most aggressive acts to protect territory, reproduction, and food acquisition from other birds.
Aggressive Behavior is an Innate Survival Tactic
Though aggression seems unnecessary at man-made feeders, it remains an innate behavioral strategy honed over thousands of years.
Physical Contact is Rare
While dive bombing looks dangerous, actual physical attacks and injuries are uncommon. Most aggression is communicating through displays versus actual combat.
Aggression is Part of Coexisting in Groups at Limited Resources
Hummingbirds cluster together at prime nesting areas and wintering grounds despite aggression. They resolve conflicts quickly to allow seasonal group living.
Conclusion
Hummingbird aggression occurs for logical biological reasons rooted in survival needs. While the speed and vocalizations seem intense, injury is infrequent. Providing ample habitat resources, multiple feeders, and understanding hummingbird behavior are the best ways to enjoy these feisty birds while minimizing conflicts. Ultimately, the hummingbird’s beauty and aerial skills far outweigh its brief competitive displays required for accessing the key resources that sustain its incredible metabolism and flight abilities. With some patience, birders can continue to enjoy observing hummingbirds up close as they feed and interact.