My hummingbirds have been sparring quite a bit lately. Nothing unusual about that. I usually have at least a couple 50 mL feeders outside our window, and may add up to a total of 5 or so when the numbers of birds increase.

Last night, I had 5 feeders out, was trying some new ones that I had made. Two hummingbirds came down at dusk, and faced off in midair, each trying to intimidate the other. Then, to my amazement, one went to the Manettia feeder, and the other went to the Impatiens feeder, not two feet apart from each other, and fed peacefully.

I've been feeding them since late summer of 2005, and in all the hundreds of hours I've spent watching them, I've never seen two feeding at once that close to each other. I know it happens all the time in practically everyone else's yard, but I've never seen it in my yard. Usually, I'm dismayed at how needlessly aggressive they are towards each other, chasing one another into neighbors' yards, swishing their bills at each other like sabres. It's so silly because there's enough for everyone, but they don't know it.

I couldn't believe they actually decided to call a truce just this once! I know others have seen them feeding near each other, but has anyone else observed what I have these last few years--pretty much zero tolerance? It was refreshing to see them get along, if only for that brief time. Maybe the reason is, as some have suggested, that I usually only have a few birds at a time. I've never seen more than 4 at once, but I imagine I may 2-3 times that many during the course of a day.

Kristin funny you should mention that only because I just saw two hummers feeding at two different feeders about 4 feet apart. They were chasing each other around and then, I guess, decieded to take a break. They sat for about 30 seconds and I said under my breath "now be nice" when all of a sudden the one started chasing the other again. Oh well peace in less then a min.

Chris
Burlington County
NJ

Kristin,

I have had only 3 at one time & they war. Last year when I had about 15+, there was only a few occassions that 2 would feed together. Funny how they sit opposite each other though....never feed from 2 holes right together.

Oh, how I long to have last year back again!!!! Migration, where are you????

Joni
Elwood, IL
Zone 5

Kristin
I also had a first ....two males came to 2 feeders that were about 4ft. apart today. I have had 2 and occasionally 3 females at one of my larger multi port feeders on a rare occasion but I have never had 2 males this close together before. I stood there the whole time because I just didn't think it would last more than a second or two but they pothe sat at their respective feeders drinking for quite a long time.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Not only will they chase another bird away from a nearby feeder, but if they see one 50-60 feet away in the garden, they will stop feeding and take off after the little interloper.

I had to laugh last year when I saw a hummingbird flying low, up our driveway, at the level of our 3 foot rock wall, and then sneak in behind the holly tree and sip from some flowers. It was like a military maneuver. It sure seemed like a deliberate attempt to stay hidden from the more aggressive ones. Pretty clever, don't you think? That holly tree is a real godsend for the hummingbirds. It lies between my sun gardens and the feeders, and helps provide a screen. The hummingbirds also love to perch in it. They're so small they can practically hide their entire bodies behind one of the prickly leaves. Even so, those dominant hummingbirds seem almost to have a 6th sense about seeing competitors, even when they are on the other side of that tree.

It sounds like my rare experience is pretty uncommon for other folks, too. I think that because it was close to nightfall, both were desperate to get in a last drink, and decided to tolerate each other.

Quote: Not only will they chase another bird away from a nearby feeder, but if they see one 50-60 feet away in the garden, they will stop feeding and take off after the little interloper.

Yep, that's the way it is here. It is very, very seldom that I see 2 hummers eating together peacefully.

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Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí­
Metairie, Louisiana USA
USDA Zone 9

I've only seen this 2 times im my yard Kristin, and that's with 2 feeders being 30 ft apart. So far this year it hasn't happend yet. I swear they get more yanky every year.

birdlegs
zone 5
S.E. Lower MI.

This year it seemed my females were always at my my back yard feeders. Males at the front feeders. Then after the babies flew out, everything changed. Territory debates in the front and back. Very active here now, but I know they will be moving on soon. Then 2 weeks of migrators. Then winter again. Sucks!

I had 2 females, or young, that did a face off on the patio but did not chase, they both visited the flowers in the bed, and later both of them sat at the feeder together. I know it's no big deal for all of you that get large numbers of hummers, but it was the first time I've got to witness this miracle.


birdlegs
zone 5
S.E. Lower MI.

Although my hummers do not migrate so stay here in Costa Rica all year, I have noticed that they are all more tolerant than usual, both with their own species and the other seven species in the garden.