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Hummingbird Garden
carlarcher

Hummer Behavior

10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago

Hello folks, new to the forums, very new to hummingbirds but trying to learn like crazy. Live in San Francisco.

Three weeks ago, I put up a feeder and have one hummer coming, I assume it's a Anna's hummer. Would like feedback on his behavior.

I'll call him #1. He stays in a nearby branch in my yard for pretty much the whole day. He would regularly take a drink and fly to a dense tree perhaps two hundred feet away then come back a few minutes later. It seems when other birds comes by, he chases them away. (I guess that's what he's doing)

The past week, I've noticed a different, young looking hummer along side #1, he doesn't chase this one away. Soon #1 stopped coming to the feeder and the young one has taken over his spot on the same branch in my yard.

What do you think is going on?

thanks.

Featured Answer
  • 10 years ago

    I doubt #2 is any offspring. Too early for this season and once they are able to fly and are more or less self-sufficient, Anna's hatchlings do not hang out any longer with their parent(s) but will sometimes stay in sibling pairs for a few months before claiming their own territory.

    I think what you are seeing is a mating pair. This is breeding season (December - March and sometimes into April) and once that important task has been achieved, the males tend to move off to other breeding areas and potential new mates, leaving the female behind to tend the nest and raise her young.

    So my assumption would be #1 is the male, who after completing his duties as 'husband' has skipped town to find a new babe and #2 is the female, who has stayed behind to tend the nursery.

    Comments (6)

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