donnam@palomar.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Donna Mitchell) (03/01/90)
Well, the little jewels of the sky are in abundance once again! Annas never leave, but the Allens are back. Rufous should be here any day (they show up about the same time as Orioles). But, a question: Over the years I have noticed this aerobatic trick that the hummers do: They fly straight up in the air...very high. Then, drop straight back to earth (wings tucked in), and at the last moment swoop back upwards and make a wistle-pop sound. (It's like making a big "J") They continue this for about 20 minutes at a time, or until another hummer drives them off. I think all of these aerobatic daredevils are male, but not 100% sure. Any ideas what they are doing?!!! It is enjoyable to watch, but I do get concerned about getting hit in the head. They have come close a couple of times. (Damage to me would be insignificant; but I'd hate to walk around with this bird stuck into the side of my head.)
john@nmtsun.nmt.edu (John Shipman) (03/01/90)
Donna Mitchell (donnam@palomar.SanDiego.NCR.COM) writes: +-- | ...a question: Over the years I have noticed this aerobatic | trick that the [Allen's] hummers do: They fly straight up in | the air...very high. Then, drop straight back to earth (wings | tucked in), and at the last moment swoop back upwards and make | a whistle-pop sound. (It's like making a big "J")...Any ideas | what they are doing?!!! +-- From ``The Birder's Handbook'' by Ehrlich et al., p. 334: DISPLAYS: Male flies before female in J-shaped pattern, swooping down from a height of 75', making a prolonged metallic buzz at the bottom, then curving upward ca. 25' and hovering. Often preceded and followed by pendulumlike rocking display covering ca. 25'. So it's a mating display, and you did an excellent job of describing it. I recommend Ehrlich's book; it's like a one-volume condensation of Bent's _Life Histories_. +-- | It is enjoyable to watch, but I do get concerned about getting | hit in the head. They have come close a couple of times. +-- I don't think you need to worry. Hummers have outstanding reflexes, and time passes much faster for them; your movements probably look like those of a tree sloth to them, and if you were to get in their way they would most likely be able to dodge. -- John Shipman/Zoological Data Processing/Socorro, New Mexico USENET: ucbvax!unmvax!nmtsun!john CSNET: john@jupiter.nmt.edu ``Let's go outside and commiserate with nature.'' --Dave Farber
chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) (03/01/90)
john@nmtsun.nmt.edu (John Shipman) writes: >I don't think you need to worry. Hummers have outstanding reflexes, >and time passes much faster for them; your movements probably look >like those of a tree sloth to them, and if you were to get in >their way they would most likely be able to dodge. This is generally VERY true, but about two months ago I was out sweeping the patio when one of the locals swooped down over the roof for a bombing raid on the feeder. I found myself with a hummingbird trying to suck the nectar out of my ear (literally. I was a foot in front of the feeder and lined up perfectly). I don't know which of us were more surprised. -- Chuq Von Rospach <+> chuq@apple.com <+> [This is myself speaking] All spirits are enslaved which serve things evil -- Shelley
zona@pyramid.pyramid.com ( lang group) (03/01/90)
You are watching a courtship display! They'll be doing it for
some time now. Don't worry about them hitting anything. They have
pretty good control!
Zonadonnam@thor.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Donna Mitchell) (03/02/90)
In article <3859@nmtsun.nmt.edu> john@nmtsun.nmt.edu (John Shipman) writes: >Donna Mitchell (donnam@palomar.SanDiego.NCR.COM) writes: > >+-- >| It is enjoyable to watch, but I do get concerned about getting >| hit in the head. They have come close a couple of times. >+-- >I don't think you need to worry. Hummers have outstanding reflexes, >and time passes much faster for them; your movements probably look >like those of a tree sloth to them, and if you were to get in >their way they would most likely be able to dodge. Well, my concerns were somewhat meant in jest, however, I do have reason to worry. I have been hit many times by these little guys. "Many" meaning more than a dozen in the past two years. They get so absorbed in fighting/feeding that they crash into whatever gets in their way. I've never been hit while they were doing their "mating" dive, but considering the velocity they attain, I don't want to be! Donna _____________________________________________________________________________ Normal disclaimers: | The thoughts expressed here are those | Donna Mitchell of my fingers. My brain took the day off. | Donnam@palomar.SanDiego.NCR.Com ____________________________________________|_________________________________
rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Kehaar) (03/02/90)
In article <2562@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM> donnam@palomar.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Donna Mitchell) writes: >Well, the little jewels of the sky are in abundance once again! Annas >never leave, but the Allens are back. Rufous should be here any day (they >show up about the same time as Orioles). > >But, a question: Over the years I have noticed this aerobatic trick that >the hummers do: They fly straight up in the air...very high. Then, drop >straight back to earth (wings tucked in), and at the last moment swoop >back upwards and make a wistle-pop sound. (It's like making a big "J") >They continue this for about 20 minutes at a time, or until another >hummer drives them off. I think all of these aerobatic daredevils are >male, but not 100% sure. Any ideas what they are doing?!!! > This behavior actually has a combined purpose. The first is like birdsong--it'sthe male telling all his rivals "This territory is *mine*--no trespassing!" In addition to other male hummingbirds of any species, the hummingbird will dive-bomb much larger birds and other animals. I really had a good laugh at thestory of a large red-tailed hawk getting "chased" out of a hedgerow by a possesive hummingbird. The other purpose for this display is to woo females; i.e. "look at how macho I am." It is arguable that hummingbirds have the strongest, most durable bodies of any life; the maximum lifespan for a hummingbird is 10 years, while it's closest mammalian counterpart, the shrew, lives at most about 2 years. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R. Cody Buchmann ^.^ "Kehaar" email: rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu "Now I fly for you..." - Watership Down ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
mjm@oliven.olivetti.com (Michael Mammoser) (03/06/90)
In article <2562@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM>, donnam@palomar.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Donna Mitchell) writes: > > But, a question: Over the years I have noticed this aerobatic trick that > the hummers do: They fly straight up in the air...very high. Then, drop > straight back to earth (wings tucked in), and at the last moment swoop > back upwards and make a wistle-pop sound. (It's like making a big "J") If you look closely at the point they are diving to, you will generally find a female hummingbird. Your description sounds like the courtship display of the Anna's Hummingbird. They may also use this as an aggression display against other bird species. I once saw an Anna's Hummingbird doing this to a Bushtit. Mike