I just saw a film where they were showing how some Hummingbirds' beaks had evolved into sword shapes for fighting.

What a cutie pie! Birds are seriously evil when it comes to protecting their babies. Like Velociraptors with feathers! lol

How cute! Life on the edge. I'm a bit curious, when the nest begins to break down, as is normal with growing youngsters, if the spines might poke through the narrowing bottom. ouch.

AFAIK, by that time the babies have gone. I don't think hummers reuse nests.

Hummingbird nests for many species have flex. As the babies grow, the nest will expand to allow them to fit. I had one in our front yard that was more than double the original width by the time the youngsters fledged. I was a sagging-sided, sorry looking nest by then. I agree that while hummers will often reuse successful sites, they don't reuse the nests.

I got to see them year-around in San Diego for a number of years, and they really liked their nests in hedges, but sometimes you'd come across something like this.

That's not a hummer, I can't tell what it is, but I will say that there are alot of desert birds with long beaks.

I'm not sure why you don't believe it is a hummingbird. Could you elaborate as to your reasoning? I believe it has all of the characteristics of a hummingbird, even down to the nest constriction and materials.

Rob, that's a hummer, regardless of whether you believe it or not. Is it contrarian day for you today?

Looks a lot like the hummingbirds I see in my backyard visiting the feeders.

That nest is definitely in a precarious position. Or, at least it was. Probably all gone by now.

If McHarris says its a hummer, its a hummer. It looked like a wren, or other little brown bird, not like the hummers I know with brilliant green, blue, purple and red. A hummer thats brown is unthinkable to me, and the body shape is all wrong. I agree the nest is hummer-esque. And yes, even my therapist thinks I am all contrarian all the time.

bill here is about 3X longer than a wren ;) also females are usually brown-esque with hummers, the boys have the pretty throats. Nice to see a bird cross post on succie forum. Only thing I like more than plants lol.

Rob, it's time to tell you a secret, although if you've been following this forum here you've found lots of anecdotal evidence already - I'm not always right, but in this case, I am.

That‘s a typical female hummingbird I see drinking out of my feeders, brown with a hint of green iridescence. I love to watch birds. Hummingbirds are probably my fav because of their little attitudes. They’re fearless little balls of energy. I’ve caught one in a state of torpor hanging like a bat on one of my feeders.

Titmice are pretty cute too.

That’s a great picture!

Look carefully. The wings are brown but the bird's back is green.

It's def a hummer. they're in my garden nearly every day; some have gotten in the house with my open patio door!