The takeaway: Don’t be fooled by hummingbirds’ size and zest for sweet things–these birds have mighty tempers and sharp beaks–and aren’t afraid to use them to defend their territory and win mates.
Hummingbirds might be the cutest things in your backyard, but don’t let their penchant for syrup and tiny bodies fool you–these animals are fighters. Gram per gram, they might be among the feistiest animals on Earth. But why? Let’s find out!
Do Hummingbirds Fight?
Yes, hummingbirds fight–and some will fight a lot. Not only do they fight, but they’re surprisingly aggressive. Some scientists say they are among the most aggressive animals on Earth relative to their size.
Larger animals, such as chimpanzees, may fight more often, but that’s due in large part to the fact that they live in groups and compete constantly. Among birds, hummingbirds are considered highly aggressive, especially toward their own species. Per ounces, they’re often cited as the most territorial birds in the world.
Hummingbird aggressiveness comes down to a few factors–they have extreme metabolism and must feed almost constantly, and their nectar patches are fairly easy to guard. On top of all that, their fights happen in the open air, often right in front of us or at hummingbird feeders. Their speed and maneuverability make chasing and harassment visible and impressive.
Why Do Hummingbirds Fight?
Hummingbirds mainly fight to defend their territory, which usually boils down to sources of nectar like flowers or feeders. One bird may stake claim to a feeder or patch of flowers and aggressively fend off any others who try to come in for a sip.
Males are especially territorial during breeding season, largely because the rewards are huge and the costs of losing are even higher. Breeding season is a high-stakes showdown where males that control territory or display dominance get more mating opportunities, and fighting helps decide who gets to breed and who doesn’t. While they're much more territorial and feisty during the breeding season, that doesn't mean that they're not still feisty and fighting during migration or non-breeding times.
Territory is important to hummingbirds since it protects food sources, nesting sites, and safe perches. Winning a fight can mean a hummingbird gets exclusive access to all of that. Meanwhile, females may choose mates based on territory quality, display strength, and the male’s ability to chase rivals away. In short, aggressiveness signals fitness.
There’s another factor at play–hormones. Testosterone levels spike during breeding season, and this increases aggression, risk-taking, and persistence in conflicts. Once the breeding season wraps up, hormone levels drop and so does fighting.
One last thing to remember: hummingbird fights are all about timing. Breeding seasons are short and competitive, and hesitant birds are not rewarded.
How Do Hummingbirds Fight?
Hummingbirds fight in a handful of primary ways. Notably, their fighting takes place almost entirely in the air, using speed, precision, and intimidation more than brute force.
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Aerial chases: One bird spots an intruder and immediately launches a chase. They zigzag at high speeds, often up to 40 mph. The goal is to drive the other bird out.
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Dive bombing: A defending bird will climb high then plunge straight down at an intruder. This is intimidation.
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Face offs: Two birds hover bill to bill, sometimes inches apart. This tests stamina and nerves.
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Physical contact: If neither bird retreats, they may jab with their bills (see below) or strike with their feet.
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Perch intimidation: One bird will claim a perch overlooking a feeder or flower patch and repeatedly attack anything that approaches.
Do Hummingbirds Kill Each Other?
Hummingbirds almost never kill each other during fights. Instead, these conflicts are about chasing, bluffing, and intimidation–anything to drive rivals away. Fatal encounters have been documented, but it’s extremely rare.
Do Hummingbirds Joust?
Some do! The long, sharp bills of green hummingbirds allow males to joust like knights.
The bill developed to help these birds get nectar from tropical flowers in Central and South America, but during mating season, male green hermits use their bills to spar in fights that can end in death. This is possible because recent 3D modeling showed the male bills are slightly straighter but much sharper than those of females.
During mating season, the males gather in a group, chirp to let females know they are in the area, and then fight for position amongst themselves. The birds actually fly at each other, bills first, with all their might.
How to See Hummingbird Fights
If you live in an area that hummingbirds frequent, seeing fights is pretty easy–hang a smart hummingbird feeder, fill it with nectar, and wait for the smart alerts to roll in. Since hummingbird feeders like the FeatherSnap have a large nectar reservoir and four feeding ports, it’s likely to become a popular destination for hummingbirds–and a worthy place to defend for birds seeking to protect their nectar cache.
While some fighting will be normal, if you see constant fights, you may want to add a second feeder, about 15 feet away and out of sight from the first feeder.
Learn more about FeatherSnap smart hummingbird feeders here.