Subject: Re: Hummingbird Wars
Date: Apr 6 07:12:12 1998
From: Jack Bowling - jbowling at direct.ca


** Scott wrote -
>
> I have been witnessing for several weeks an all out war between an adult
> male Rufous and an immature male Rufous at my feeders. It is not a normal
> territorial battle that you might expect. It seems that on most occasions
> one will wait for the other to go to the feeder. Then will make an all out
> charge to drive to other away. Sometimes the attack will come as one
> approaches the feeder. They always fly off into the neighbors yard, but
> one is usually back within minutes to feed undisturbed. My theory is that
> the immature is the son of the adult and is challenging dad for the
> territory and mom. Any ideas out there?

Just about every feeder out there in the Rufous Hummer's breeding range will
be claimed by a territorial male at the beginning of the season. He will run
any other bird off that gets near the feeder except any females to which he is
attracted (hummers also leave bees alone). After he has wooed a female who
builds a nest and lays eggs within his territory, she will drive him off after
the eggs hatch, essentially usurping his former territory.




--------------
Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jbowling at direct.ca