Who can say they've seen a hummingbird courting dance ?

[turkeyfeathers]

So after getting home from work last night I went to check the veggie garden, aka bunny patrol. I hear this zoom , zoom , zoom noise. I say to myself that sounds like a hummer but none like I've heard before. My eyes spot a make hummingbird flying east to west and back and forth over and over. Thought the poor little guy had an inner ear problem and was outta sorts lol. This went on for about 30 seconds. I then notice the female hummer on a branch. That dude was zipping around her trying to impress her. He finally swept down , mounted her and poof he was done bettering my fastest time of mating , lol. He soon zipped off and she was left there with a look of " wham , bam , thank you mam ". It was an incredible thing to witness and thought I'd share because I'm assuming I'll never see this ever again nor most people haven't seen it either.

PS and if you're curious , no bunnies were harmed in this incident

[grampy]

My wife loves hummingbirds. So I have four feeders set up around our deck so she can watch at least one bird most times. I've never seen "the dance", so cool you got to witness one of natures seldom seen wonders. These little bundles of energy with their acrobatic flight are a joy to watch.

 

Bunnies and gardens don't mix well. Good luck with that! 

[Curmudgeon]

Interesting about hummer displays. We have only one species here but in the west the different species can be identified by their different displays - even if they won't sit still long enough for a good look.

Edited July 14, 2015 by Curmudgeon

[Pygmy]

Very cool, TF...I have never witnessed hummingbirds mating...

I HAVE watched pileated woodpeckers copulating on a limb while I was spring gobbler hunting.

Does that make us EVEN ?? (grin)...

Aside to Curmudgeon...The first time I bowhunted elk in New Mexico, I was amazed at the variety of hummers..Lots of wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains in September for them to work on. After that trip one of my partners started bringing a hummingbird feeder to camp with us, and it provided lots of entertainment during the mid day hours when were were lounging around camp because the elk were shaded up.

[Jeremy K]

He had to get out of there before she asked for his phone number.

[wooly]

Last year I saw a male land on a shepherds hook.

His tail was split/fanned out into a "Y" shape and he had some feathers that flared out on both sides of his neck.

I only saw him from behind and it was the only time I've ever seen a hummer display like that.

 

You inspired me to go out to try to get a hummer this evening and I did manage to get a few of one female. They're buzzing everywhere now that the rain stopped.

 

[nyslowhand]

I did see the courtship dance just once & it was pretty cool to witness.

Always wished I could find a nest, just to see how small it really was. No such luck!

Amazing thing about those little dudes is their annual migration. Simply unbelievable!!!