If you've seen hummingbirds at your feeder, you may see that they don't share the wealth. These tiny birds will dive, chase and guard feeders. Knowing how aggressive these birds are can help you create a backyard that even the most aggressive birds will find peace.
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Check PriceThey Have an Insatiable Appetite for Fuel Because of Their Rapid Metabolism
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Hummingbirds have extremely high metabolisms. When they fly, their hearts beat 1,200 times a minute! They also flap their wings 80 times a second. To sustain this level of activity, they consume more than their own body weight every single day. This requires them to visit hundreds of flowers or feeder ports daily. When a hummingbird finds a steady source of nectar, they see it as vital fuel. They also see it as valuable enough to defend. To decrease competition, put out several feeders spaced 10-15 feet apart so dominant birds can't guard all the feeders at the same time. Also, hang the feeders at different heights and between obstacles. This allows subordinate birds to feed without being harassed.
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Nectar Is Scarce In Nature – Even In Your Feeder
A single hummingbird can visit hundreds of flowers in a day, and they will only get a tiny bit of nectar from each flower. To a hummingbird, even the best stocked feeder is just one little food source. During migration, birds will fight each other for limited resources. Hummingbirds are able to get calories from the feeder, but when there are a lot of birds, it will appear the feeder is under stocked. Because of this scarcity mindset, birds can guard a feeder for a long time even if other food sources are available. The simple solution is to have abundance. If fighting at the feeder is a regular occurrence, have three to four feeders. Also, try to create more sources of food by planting nectar-rich native flowers like salvia, bee balm, and cardinal flower. More food sources will reduce fighting over the feeders.
Male's defend their area to attract mates.
Aggression is not unusual with male hummingbirds in the breeding season. This aggressive behavior is designed to defend a territory. A territory with plenty of food shows females that the male has good quality food and is thus a good potential mate. To keep food in his territory, a male will sit on a perch near the food and actively drive away other males while calling and singing. This behavior, while annoying, is instinctive and will be most pronounced in the spring and summer months. While this instinct cannot be removed, it can be lessened. Providing multiple feeding locations means that one aggressive male will not be able to control and dominate the food sources. If you place small dead branches as perches near the food, the territorial male will sit on that branch and not defend the feeder any more, thus allowing other birds to access the food a and to allow you to enjoy watching the birds.
