Subject: RE-hummers?
Date: Feb 23 16:22:13 1995
From: Jerry Tangren - Jerry_Tangren at tfrec.ncw.net






bob obrien wrote

>Somewhat off the current hummer discussion (& somewhat impolite)--I
photographe
>d a yearling male Anna's hummer trying to rape a just fledged Anna's
juvenile,
>while the mother was off feeding. She would drive the male away when she
retur
>ned to feed the juvenile, but it hang around the area. Is anyone familar
with
>this type of activity in hummers (or any other birds except ducks)?
>Bob O'Brien H6LG at cc.pdx.edu

Somehow, I wouldn't us rape to describe this obviously misplaced activity.
The begging display of young birds does resemble female mating display. The
poor male was just misinformed. It is in no way related to perverted
behavior in humans.

I have seen the same behavior in feeding groups of House Sparrows where a
young, begging bird is mounted by an adult male in the group.

Jerry Tangren
Systems and Programming Professional
Washington State University
Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center
1100 N. Western Ave.
Wenatchee WA 98801

E-mail: Jerry_Tangren at tfrec.ncw.net
Phone: 509-663-8181 ext 231