Nature Don't Mess With Me!

Don't Mess With Me! · **13 Likes**

A male Anna's Hummingbird in his intimidating pose while he defends his feeder. The pour guy gets pretty frazzled because he tries to keep other hummingbirds away from two feeders that are about 20 feet apart. By the end of the day he has probably flown ten miles

bertwert · 05-17-2020, 04:10 PM

A beautiful display of colours. I was chatting with some neighbours who have feeders the other day (while trying to photograph the hummingbirds, but it was too overcast out) and they were theorising that having feeders could cause the birds to be more aggressive than usual, and that they use just as much energy defending feeders as eating...

photoptimist · 05-17-2020, 04:25 PM

Beautiful shot of a beautiful hummer.

He probably flies a lot farther than that each day -- 20 miles is nothing for a hummingbird. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have a migration route that includes a 500-mile, non-stop crossing of the Gulf of Mexico. It's an arduous 18-20 flight and they do burn off about half their body weight on the journey but they do it!

**ToddK** · 05-17-2020, 06:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by bertwert

A beautiful display of colours. I was chatting with some neighbours who have feeders the other day (while trying to photograph the hummingbirds, but it was too overcast out) and they were theorising that having feeders could cause the birds to be more aggressive than usual, and that they use just as much energy defending feeders as eating...

Thanks Robert! I agree that they are probably more aggressive around feeders. They would have to scatter out to find enough food without the feeders and the encounters would be less frequent.

Originally posted by photoptimist

Beautiful shot of a beautiful hummer.
He probably flies a lot farther than that each day -- 20 miles is nothing for a hummingbird. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have a migration route that includes a 500-mile, non-stop crossing of the Gulf of Mexico. It's an arduous 18-20 flight and they do burn off about half their body weight on the journey but they do it!

Thank you! Yes, you are right about how far they can travel. The Anna's are not migratory, but they still probably have a pretty large territory. I sometimes get Rufous Hummingbirds through my yard during spring migration. They winter in northern Mexico and summer in Canada, so they travel very long distances. FYI, they are MUCH more aggressive than Anna's and drive them off when they are in my yard.

**K2 to K50** · 05-18-2020, 02:27 AM

Beautiful capture at a great moment of display, Todd. Lovely image.

**ToddK** · 05-18-2020, 06:14 AM

Originally posted by K2 to K50

Beautiful capture at a great moment of display, Todd. Lovely image.

Thank you K2 to K50!

SSGGeezer · 05-18-2020, 02:41 PM

Love the capture! Little dude is trying to puff up! I have seen the female Ruby throated up here chasing away males from the feeders, and I see a large number with disheveled or missing feathers from little scraps with other hummers.

**Sailor** · 05-18-2020, 06:35 PM

One tough customer! A marvelous catch, Todd.

Jer

**ToddK** · 05-18-2020, 07:06 PM

Originally posted by SSGGeezer

Love the capture! Little dude is trying to puff up! I have seen the female Ruby throated up here chasing away males from the feeders, and I see a large number with disheveled or missing feathers from little scraps with other hummers.

Thank you for your nice comment! Yes, I am sure they can use those long beaks to their advantage.

Originally posted by Sailor

One tough customer! A marvelous catch, Todd.
Jer

Thank you kindly Jer!

aitrus3 · 05-30-2020, 09:09 AM

Originally posted by ToddK

A male Anna's Hummingbird in his intimidating pose while he defends his feeder. The pour guy gets pretty frazzled because he tries to keep other hummingbirds away from two feeders that are about 20 feet apart. By the end of the day he has probably flown ten miles

What a unique hummingbird shot!

**DW58** · 05-31-2020, 06:49 AM

Wow!. This is so cool Todd. I somehow missed seeing this until now. Definitely a candidate for a wall hanger.

**ToddK** · 05-31-2020, 09:38 AM

Originally posted by aitrus3

What a unique hummingbird shot!

Thank you! It gave me a perfect pose.

Originally posted by DW58

Wow!. This is so cool Todd. I somehow missed seeing this until now. Definitely a candidate for a wall hanger.

Thanks Dave! I was really pleased that this guy let me get close, and he gave me a great pose.

micromacro · 05-31-2020, 02:09 PM

Beautiful!

**Kerrowdown** · 05-31-2020, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by ToddK

Don't Mess With Me!

A great shot... a Hummer with attitude.

**ToddK** · 05-31-2020, 04:03 PM

Originally posted by micromacro

Beautiful!

Thank you Lana!

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

A great shot... a Hummer with attitude.

Thanks KD! They have some kind of small bird complex

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05-17-2020, 04:10 PM	#2
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	A beautiful display of colours. I was chatting with some neighbours who have feeders the other day (while trying to photograph the hummingbirds, but it was too overcast out) and they were theorising that having feeders could cause the birds to be more aggressive than usual, and that they use just as much energy defending feeders as eating...

05-17-2020, 04:25 PM	#3
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,123	Beautiful shot of a beautiful hummer. He probably flies a lot farther than that each day -- 20 miles is nothing for a hummingbird. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have a migration route that includes a 500-mile, non-stop crossing of the Gulf of Mexico. It's an arduous 18-20 flight and they do burn off about half their body weight on the journey but they do it!

05-17-2020, 06:18 PM - 1 Like	#4
ToddK Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,532 Original Poster	Originally posted by bertwert A beautiful display of colours. I was chatting with some neighbours who have feeders the other day (while trying to photograph the hummingbirds, but it was too overcast out) and they were theorising that having feeders could cause the birds to be more aggressive than usual, and that they use just as much energy defending feeders as eating... Thanks Robert! I agree that they are probably more aggressive around feeders. They would have to scatter out to find enough food without the feeders and the encounters would be less frequent. Originally posted by photoptimist Beautiful shot of a beautiful hummer. He probably flies a lot farther than that each day -- 20 miles is nothing for a hummingbird. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have a migration route that includes a 500-mile, non-stop crossing of the Gulf of Mexico. It's an arduous 18-20 flight and they do burn off about half their body weight on the journey but they do it! Thank you! Yes, you are right about how far they can travel. The Anna's are not migratory, but they still probably have a pretty large territory. I sometimes get Rufous Hummingbirds through my yard during spring migration. They winter in northern Mexico and summer in Canada, so they travel very long distances. FYI, they are MUCH more aggressive than Anna's and drive them off when they are in my yard.

05-18-2020, 02:27 AM	#5
K2 to K50 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Ipswich QLD Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,794	Beautiful capture at a great moment of display, Todd. Lovely image.

05-18-2020, 06:14 AM	#6
ToddK Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,532 Original Poster	Originally posted by K2 to K50 Beautiful capture at a great moment of display, Todd. Lovely image. Thank you K2 to K50!

05-18-2020, 02:41 PM	#7
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Love the capture! Little dude is trying to puff up! I have seen the female Ruby throated up here chasing away males from the feeders, and I see a large number with disheveled or missing feathers from little scraps with other hummers.

05-18-2020, 06:35 PM	#8
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	One tough customer! A marvelous catch, Todd. Jer

05-18-2020, 07:06 PM	#9
ToddK Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,532 Original Poster	Originally posted by SSGGeezer Love the capture! Little dude is trying to puff up! I have seen the female Ruby throated up here chasing away males from the feeders, and I see a large number with disheveled or missing feathers from little scraps with other hummers. Thank you for your nice comment! Yes, I am sure they can use those long beaks to their advantage. Originally posted by Sailor One tough customer! A marvelous catch, Todd. Jer Thank you kindly Jer!

05-30-2020, 09:09 AM	#10
aitrus3 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kamloops B.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,432	Originally posted by ToddK A male Anna's Hummingbird in his intimidating pose while he defends his feeder. The pour guy gets pretty frazzled because he tries to keep other hummingbirds away from two feeders that are about 20 feet apart. By the end of the day he has probably flown ten miles What a unique hummingbird shot!

05-31-2020, 06:49 AM	#11
DW58 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Rural Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,064	Wow!. This is so cool Todd. I somehow missed seeing this until now. Definitely a candidate for a wall hanger.

05-31-2020, 09:38 AM	#12
ToddK Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,532 Original Poster	Originally posted by aitrus3 What a unique hummingbird shot! Thank you! It gave me a perfect pose. Originally posted by DW58 Wow!. This is so cool Todd. I somehow missed seeing this until now. Definitely a candidate for a wall hanger. Thanks Dave! I was really pleased that this guy let me get close, and he gave me a great pose.

05-31-2020, 02:09 PM	#13
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	Beautiful!

05-31-2020, 02:18 PM	#14
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Originally posted by ToddK Don't Mess With Me! A great shot... a Hummer with attitude.

05-31-2020, 04:03 PM	#15
ToddK Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,532 Original Poster	Originally posted by micromacro Beautiful! Thank you Lana! Originally posted by Kerrowdown A great shot... a Hummer with attitude. Thanks KD! They have some kind of small bird complex