Hummingbirds Fighting at a Feeder--NARRATED

[@SilverGram]

I miss the daily entertainment from my feeder. Thank you for the delightfully entertaining video.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it, and thanks for commenting. You might like to watch a more recent video I did showing the hummers fighting in super slomo. The newer one informs you about why they fight so much more than other birds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2XJpKB9m8qrhrM

[@anonymouse1079]

I just love them so much! We just moved into our first home this summer and I bought a feeder on a whim. Since then I've learned how fun they are and added several more! Nothing better than taking my morning coffee out to watch the hummingbirds. I feel so lucky to live in Arizona where we have them year round!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

It's fun to hear from someone who's having such a good time watching the hummers. I don't know which part of Arizona you live in, but I do know that southeast Arizona gets a much more exciting collection of hummingbird species than we get in the eastern half of the country (only the Ruby-throats here). Are you seeing several species? Much as you enjoy the hummers, I want to suggest my latest video about them. It's longer than this one--ten minutes, maybe--but it offers lots of info about why they fight so much, and it shows their squabbles in super slomo! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2XJpKB9m8qrhrM

[@dbeachmawmaw]

This was so fun to watch! Looks just like my feeder where I usually have 3 or 4 going at it several times a day. Thank you Jo for all your great videos!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, Donnaleigh. My husband still hasn't taken our hummingbird feeders down because someone in the area got a rare hummingbird just a couple of weeks ago. That woman had a feeder with a little heater attached.

[@dbeachmawmaw]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME a heater attached? Oh my goodness, I didn't think any hummers would still be around and a heater, now that is something!!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

@@dbeachmawmaw Some birders are hard core.

[@anonymouse1079]

Wow! I have a few of those tray feeders and I didn't realize that their tongues can reach the bottom! That's good to know that I don't have to fill them so full and waste so much nectar.

[@TheTishy44]

I just put up 4 separate feeders and with in 2 weeks I have 8 hummingbirds now…and yes they do that fighting crap, but I love watching them.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Fun! I recently bought a camera that does super slow mo and I’m filming dragonflies and hummingbirds so that you can see every wing beat. I am eager to show viewers what I’ve gotten.

[@indianoutlaw9647]

They are so entertaining. We have our meals at the dinning room table, and they are our entertainment.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I know, I know! In fact, I'm just finishing a 10 minute movie about why hummingbirds fight so much, showing their fights in super slomo. I'll publish it this Friday in case it interests you. Thanks for commenting.

[@taciouno]

Thank you. I’m new to feeding hummingbirds and noticed some fighting today. This provided a lot of information. Again thank you. Good journey.

[@lukez9721]

They’re so territorial over food sources. It’s always entertaining watching them feed and chase each other around the yard

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Yep, Alec. Obviously I agree with you.

[@lukez9721]

Ok

[@waywardmuse]

Aren't they fun to watch! Awesome vid. Music again very appropriate and well balanced with narration. Really loved the slow mo of that turn around. Thanks, Jo!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

You're welcome, Judy, and thanks for writing. (And I, too, love the slo-mo of the turn around.) As for the music, it worked well, and I can't use Vivaldi ALL the time. I would like to communicate with him beyond the grave, though, and tell him how much I appreciate his music, all of it.

[@koikat123479]

Here in San Diego the hummers are fighting like crazy! I have several feeders one in front of house the other in the backyard. So many loud fighting going on. First time I have seen them being this mad. I've been feeding hummers for over 15 years.

[@seventhfirestephanie8740]

😂 That's cute.

[@50pinkies67]

Aren't they great! I love to watch them all summer. God's magnificent little bundles of energy. Great choice of music background. Great vid. :)

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Yes, they're great. In fact, I can't leave them alone. This is the third movie I've made about them and probably not the last. Every time I set out to film them, I learn more, which is what makes this hobby so much fun.(And, yeah, I like the music I picked for this flick--high energy.)

[@AHannah79]

One of the best narrated videos I’ve seen yet describing the exact behavior I see. Isn’t it fun to watch! Thanks for posting!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Well, thank you for that compliment. I've been out filming this afternoon and saw a hummer feeding at our Jewel Weed.I felt privileged. You might want to check out the movie I made about that too. I think it's even more fun to watch hummingbirds on flowers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZWYgGSLltZ9bbc

[@sonicmcpatriotic333]

Wow! I just click on HD and wow! I can even see the tiny individual feathers! Amazing!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

For some unknown reason, Sonic, this comment that you posted a month ago only now has popped up on my screen. I'm sorry to be slow replying but glad to hear how much you liked the movie.

[@sonicmcpatriotic333]

My channel is doing that too. I am seeing comments posted weeks and even months ago. That is very annoying. That is why your videos are so great. If a person gets annoyed they just need to watch your videos and the annoyances of life just fade away. :)

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Aww. You know, Sonic, sometimes I even watch old movies of mine to soothe myself--I do that when I can't actually get out in nature to let the wildlife I see invigorate and soothe me.

[@samuelgoodman2989]

Love your narration

[@GaryT1952]

I watch them at several feeders from May-September...but August is show time. In all my years watching, this year was the first time I had two hummers at the feeder at the same time, I've witnessed it twice but only for about 30 seconds each time. Just love them...it's September 12 and I'm down to seeing one or two birds a day...in another week they'll be gone...and it's along time 'till May

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

You deserve to have more hummers visiting your property than you get, just on the basis of how much you appreciate them. I’ve been driving a couple of hours from our house to a place where the hummingbirds show up 10 or 20 at a time. That way I could film them in super slomo when they fight. I’ll publish that movie this Friday, and I’m betting it’s one that you would enjoy. Anyway, I enjoyed reading your description of how much you like watching them.

[@chrissett4245]

My dad loved watching them at there feeder.... He'd chuckle. I do miss that.

[@seventhfirestephanie8740]

I have a feeder hanging on my balcony and it's been just one who was eating from it. And now, two other hummers came along and he got mad and chased them away. They are adorable.

[@samgreason4449]

Amazing video...thank you for sharing this!

[@RickyLJones]

Nicely done Jo!!!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks, Ricky. I started this film when I noticed that the male kept sitting on that Azalea and rushing the feeder when other hummingbirds approached it. I meant to make a movie just about that. But I found so much more to comment on.

[@RickyLJones]

That's great Jo! Our hummers are eating like crazy, getting ready to head back south! Keep up the great work!

[@Rad_Radster_Experience]

As always, sarcastically enjoyable. Sorry I'm 8 years late for this one.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

If my ironic take on life were going to change, it would’ve done it before I got to be 82. I’m just glad you enjoy it. As for being eight years late to see this movie, it’s been sitting there waiting just for you. 😉

[@rosemcclarren4373]

They are real characters aren't they. Loved the video. My hummers are still going at it but I sense a change in who is boss and who might have left for more southerly lands. Have a great day. Rosie

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Yes, Rosie, they are characters. Yesterday, I was standing in a large patch of Jewel Weed (their favorite!) One of them approached at eye level within a foot of me, looked me over for five seconds, and left. I love it!

[@katesteele3607]

Thank you, Jo. I have a whippersnapper hummingbird who is extra naughty lately🤣

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

You know I understand.

[@crazymanbbqcompany1592]

I just found your Channel and I am impressed with your Channel and videos. I'm a retired fireman and was the Chef in the Fire department... I subscribed to your Channel and want to learn more about hummingbirds Bob Cooney I have had a quadruple bypass and 3 strokes... I need something to relax me.... Salt Lake City Utah Thank you

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm happy to hear from you, Bob, especially since you're impressed with my videos. 😊 If you search "hummingbirds Alwood" on YT, you'll find a slew of movies. Here are the two I would most recommend, though: "What makes hummingbirds special" (kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4WWaJV8lJJgiLM) and "Hummingbirds feeding on flowers and fighting" (kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZWYgGSLltZ9bbc).

[@crazymanbbqcompany1592]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME Thank you Sweetheart

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

@@crazymanbbqcompany1592 You're welcome.

[@callas5]

thanks very much, would love to have such beautiful flying diamonds in our neck of the woods ...

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

"Flying diamonds" describes them well. Too bad you can't watch them every day in warm weather. What neck of the woods do you live in?

[@callas5]

I live in Vienna, Austria; so no free flying hummers - but wait a few more years and the climate will have changed completely and we´ll watch humming birds fly! :))

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

The upside of climate change, huh?

[@callas5]

The problem - the change goes in the wrong direction (for me), I would prefer seeing polar bears roaming free! :)))

[@pantherking1311]

nice vid those humming birds look so cute

[@ImaYam]

Man watching this is intense! 😂

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Sure is. Can you imagine living every day at that speed and intensity?!

[@ImaYam]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME I just got a feedr a week ago and it’s just like you said in the video... they look so funny with their disproportionately small wings when they stop flapping and get aggressive... great video I sent it to my mom lol

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

@@ImaYam I’m filming hummingbirds again, trying to get their little wings in crisp focus even when they’re moving. I’m even getting another camcorder so that I can do slow motion shots of them without the choppy, silent screen effect that most slomo shots by amateurs have. I’ll be using those same techniques and equipment to get shots of dragonflies and damselflies too. I’m pretty excited about it all.

[@Mike-01234]

Today my wife saw one hummingbird grab onto another with it's claws they fell almost to the ground before the one let it's claws go.

[@thunderwolf4237]

I have a ruby who acts EXACTLY like this, I think it’s so silly because there will always be food for them here but he thinks he has to defend it to the end lol😅

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Oh, I know, I know! And since I made this movie, I got so curious about that behavior that I made another one that explains why hummingbirds fight so much - in case you're interested. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2XJpKB9m8qrhrMsi=Bw_LHJZVp_aJ3nP1

[@thunderwolf4237]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME yes very interested!! thank you!! your videos are lovely 😁

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I appreciate the compliment. The newer movie is longer than this one, but it shows their fights in super slomo. I think you will find it interesting

[@theproplady]

Saw a bunch of hummers fighting in the local municipal garden tonight. They seem to have a "game" where they size each other up, fly up several feet, then peel off, each going in different directions. I'm guessing they were having some kind of competition where the loser gets chased off by the winner. But I can't tell who's winning and who is losing.

[@dianecrumbley90]

What wonderful camera work! What type camera did you use? Thanks for this video. Love your narration as well. 😊

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks for the compliments, Diane. As for the camera work, I use two camcorders. One is the Canon HFG30, which is not terribly expensive and gives crisp footage if you're fairly close. And it's great for macro work. I use it for filming insects, like the Praying Mantis, dragonflies, and butterflies. The other camcorder is the Canon XF300, the lightest of the pro camcorders.For anything beyond 10-15 feet, it will give a crisper picture than the G30.

[@loelco8162]

That Is Pretty Cool

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

👍😊

[@twigglykevin]

Out at my grandparents gold claim last year we set out a feeder, and had close to a dozen every morning battling for it.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

We vacationed at a spot in Estes Park, CO, that was like that. I hated to leave because the constant squabbles were so entertaining.

[@dawnm.h.reeves5717]

Thank you. May I ask why it's empty 90% of the time? Just curious. Again, thank you for sharing.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

You're welcome, Dawn. Making the movie was my pleasure. As for why the feeder is empty so much of the time, I guess it wouldn't be if we had more hummingbirds. I've watched feeders in the tropics that are occupied virtually all the time. If I were a hummer, I'd want the feeder all to myself and I'd arrive when the others were gone--easy enough to do. But that's me pretending to be a hummingbird. The REAL hummingbirds relish the idea of some aerial dogfighting. After all, aggression is in their DNA. By the way, I've done two other movies on Ruby-throats and a slew of movies on other hummingbirds. Since you liked this one, you might want to google "hummingbirds Jo Alwood".

[@billholb1974]

My hummingbirds are always chasing each other away..sometimes they get close like they are going to hit me in the head..lol

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Yes, they're so pugnacious that they figure we're big lumbering oafs without enough brains or reflexes to keep out of their way.

[@heatherhartman6474]

I put one feeder up and they fought over it. So I put up another feeder. Now they fight over that one!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Well of course they did, Heather! They're hummingbirds. Yesterday, I was at a house with eight feeders visited by twenty hummers at a time. The fighting was constant. That's part of their charm, don't you think?

[@loriherrick9856]

Jo, I have about 15 hummingbirds, I love them dearly, they fight all day and night. Should I worry about this at all. Watching your video, my experience is similar.. I feel better after watching your video, I just worry i have to many feeders and they may be to close together ?

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I don't think you need to worry. Fighting is just what hummingbirds do, Lori.

[@foreveralive6949]

I have 6 rubies that are mauling each other on my property right now in 2019. Several of them are busted up pretty good and I worry about whether they will survive in the long term. My season started with one adult male....about 8 days later another adult male showed up.......finally an adult female showed up. All three birds chased and disputed over resources, but it wasn't anything that unusual based on my experiences. By the 2nd or 3rd week of May the first juveniles appeared at the feeders. That brought the numbers up to 5. At a point, another scruffy little juvenile showed up, and then the numbers went to 6 birds hitting my feeders all day long. The fighting is so bad at this point that some of them have lost their beautiful red gorget and have pink, bloody wounds with missing feathers. I don't know what to do at this point. The hummie fighting is really bad right now. I have 7 feeders spread out across my yard. There are 2 in the front yard and 5 spread across the back. They drive each other crazy and fight all day long, every single day. It's starting to stress me out. I don't want them to kill each other, and I don't know what to do at this point. I can tell you right now that the little male juveniles have no problem at all in violently attacking the adult male birds.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

For your own peace of mind, maybe you need to fill the feeders but stop watching the hummers. I'm kidding ... mostly. I guess I can joke about it because I've never seen one hummingbird bloody another, but maybe I don't watch them enough.

[@foreveralive6949]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME I've never seen the level of aggression that I'm seeing this year. It's as bad as I've ever seen after many years of feeding these little guys. My real concern is that the wounds might weaken some of them to the extent that they become susceptible to disease. I worry about their ability to bulk up in preparation for their fall migration.

[@Jason.Johnson]

Nice video. They do that all the time here

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm sure they do, Jason. Hummingbirds are about as aggressive as any bird you'll find. We just visited the Rockies last month, and I posted three movies about the species of hummers we saw there. You can find them on my home page if you're interested.

[@tylermcintyre1454]

Tyler Mac because he’s in the gun fighter doesn’t mean he’s mine

[@tylermcintyre1454]

Tyler Mac well the hummingbird is big one

[@nunyahbizzniss5140]

My feeders are always cleaned and filled twice a week and the hummers still fight all day long

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Yep. Hummingbirds will be hummingbirds! I am just finishing a film showing hummingbirds fighting in super slomo. I hope to get it published this Friday. We’ll see whether I can meet that goal.

[@strafer8764]

We have a hummingbird that hordes the feeder. The other birds eat together mostly without issue.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Nice to hear from someone who's had the same experience I did.

[@davidmeltzer1871]

I enjoy your commentary . Out here in Los Angeles we have Anna's variety who act like your MO buzzards. Maybe you can answer this . With that long beak can one buzzard use it like a sword to pierce another? I'd like to think all that chasing does NOT lead to deaths!!!!!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Well, David, they definitely do use them like swords on each other. I have a shot of one of them doing exactly that in my movie “why hummingbirds fight”. Whether or not that results in deaths, I couldn’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

[@davidmeltzer1871]

Have you come across dead buzzards with what looks like a piercing. You are right=these aRE dogfights as I've seen my buzzards doing startling aerobatics chasing each other. And while YES it IS entertaining I don't want to feel like an Ancient Roman watching Gladiators fight to the death. I am surprised nature would yield such an energy intensive creature. I've read they MUST feed every 15 minutes AND at night go into a very short hibernation.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I've never been a high energy person; maybe that's part of their fascination for me. Anyway, yes, they're rough and tumble. And I like your gladiator analogy. Right now I'm working on a movie about what causes their iridescence--because their looks are as intriguing as their aerial acrobatics.

[@davidmeltzer1871]

I will look for it. I am frustrated as I wish I could communicate look you buzzards there are 5 stations to drink from but it would all fall on deaf ears as I assume since they vocalize others hear them. My momentary attempt to help them contrasts with centuries of every buzzard for themself. Sadly that applies too often to us two legged as well

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I've been assuming that you're dictating your messages and that that is why you keep mentioning buzzards in a comment about hummingbirds. But I'm doubly puzzled by this comment because I don't understand the part about drinking and falling on deaf ears.

[@DutchPlaysGames]

My mother would love this. Only problem we have a cat that would try to make one of them a snack.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Cats have been known to succeed, but those hummers are so fast that it's rare.

[@thandilocks]

Hi Jo , I hope you don't mind that I included part of this video (fully credited to you in my description) for a children's video on God's creation. If you don't approve, please do let me know and I will take the video down. If you do, thank you SO much for giving me the opportunity to show children birds we don't see here in Cape Town South Africa. I know I have a few Kenyan children also watching and very poverty stricken fellow church members here too who don't go out into nature as most reserves etc are expensive and there are no botanical gardens etc etc. If you are ok with the clip, thank you for blessing the children I minister to, and blessing ME!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

My husband visited South Africa to see all the wonderful birds you get that we don't. But not having hummingbirds, now that is a big gap. 😩 You are welcome to use my hummingbird movie.

[@amybeck3103]

Have a ruby throated who's dominated our feeders. Only have two and runs all the other hummers off. He waits in the near by trees to attach. What to do??? I feel bad for the others.😱

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I don't think you can do anything about it, but hummingbirds survived before we ever invented feeders. 🤷‍♀️

[@JuggaloJacksonville]

I had 2 fighting today i never knew they did that. I wish they would get along I have plenty of food for all of them

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I guess it's just in their nature to be pugnacious. I bought a super slomo camera last summer and started filming their fights in slomo. And I'll do more of it this summer, then post a movie. I have loved the chance to see their fights that way.

[@adrianaurrea8559]

So cute and kawaii😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😚😚

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm not sure what kawaii means, Adriana, but it's apparently something good. Glad you enjoyed the movie. (And by the way, I have probably fifteen hummingbird movies--many of them from the tropics. You can type hummingbirds and my name in the YT search box and find them.)

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

@Oksana Koyfman Well then, that settles it. They are definitely cute.

[@alextrebekandelvispresleys6323]

2:19 that’s weird because I have ruby throated hummingbirds at my feeder the females run off the males sometimes

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I was just speaking from my own experience. I appreciate hearing that someone else's differs. Hmmm.

[@freddieivory625]

Cute

[@alextrebekandelvispresleys6323]

Sometimes after all the males go south and the females are the only ones left the female will start acting like the male guarding the feeder

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Well, they are a pugnacious lot. It's not hard for me to imagine that the females (or juveniles?) would get more daring once the males were gone.

[@waltwalt3282]

Why do males seem rarer

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Do they? I never considered that to be the case. Of course, once two broods of juveniles have been raised, an adult male will be in the minority.