Clash of the Tiny

[Solly Mack]

An adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird was minding his own business when a juvenile male decided to rumble for territory. The adult male was taken by surprise (as was I).

I had to dodge the fight several times and most of the photos were truly awful. I followed them around as best I could while trying to get a decent shot or two. Still...thought you might want to see vicious little hummingbirds in action.


The juvenile hit the adult at full speed, knocking them both to the ground. They proceeded to lock bodies in flight and then dive bomb each other into the ground.


Adult male.



Locked in battle.



Adult male on top.



Juvenile male is on the left.



Adult male on top.



The Victor returns to his roost.




The real Winner: The female that got to feed to her heart's delight while the males were playing gladiator.







A Mediterranean house Gecko that didn't see any of the fight because he only comes out at night.

[Blue_In_AK]

1. Really great shots, Solly.

We have nothing anywhere near that exciting going on here, just a pair of what I think are starlings who have taken up residence in the hole in the cottonwood that the woodpeckers carved out a few years ago.

[Solly Mack]

2. Thanks, Blue!

I spotted a couple of new birds in the neighborhood - a Carolina Wren and a Dickcissel. But nothing compared to those mean little birdies.

I went out again today to see if they would fight some more. lol

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. These are great, my dear Solly Mack!

I think you did an excellent job. It's really hard to get hummingbirds under the best conditions, and here you hardly had that.

Wow!

And I love how the female coped with the uproar...

The gecko is very cute too!




On edit: someone was looking for you today!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018757755

[Solly Mack]

4. Thanks, Peggy!

Yeah, she was the smart one. lol

[roguevalley]

5. all beautiful. Hummingbirds are and were my dad's favorite bird. Interesting thing about them to me

When my father died my mom and I sort of blindly went home. Junk mail was on the counter and I usually tossed it but I opened it and sort of chatted to get my mom back into reality for a moment or two. My father had just died probably an hour earlier. We were sort of sitting on the bar stools of the kitchen staring at each other. I took a junk mail and opened it. Papers fell out and on each of them was a ruby throated hummingbird. Ten seconds after my dad left this happened. Stunning.

I then saw hummingbirds on teevee in the days following, on stuff just about everywhere, one flittered into view on the teevee during a commercial, just filling the screen, then flying off during a commercial. I saw that commercial afterward and there was no hummingbird. I love them and have them around the house in magnets and stuff for my dad. He did that for me and my mother I believe. The world is full of miracles and I think that they fit the bill. Thank you for this.

[Solly Mack]

6. (((roguevalley)))

You're welcome.

[roguevalley]

7. :D

back at you, my dear

[JDPriestly]

8. Great pictures.

I have wonderful birds in my yard but I am not a photographer. I just am terrible with a camera. I can't even seem to get the image in the center or anywhere near it. Maybe some strange problem due to poor vision until recently (cataract surgery works miracles, truly, miracles).

But this morning about 10 a.m. a bird couple was dancing around my back yard with their baby just steadying its wings and learning about the world. It was a thrilling sight to see mommy and daddy showing baby how to sit on the rungs of my tomato frames and pick at seeds of various plants.

I have been doing a lot of babysitting for my little grand-birds this year and my garden is a shameful mess. The birds seem to thrive on the confusion, the weeds that I should have torn out long ago and the many plants that have gone to seed out of my neglect.

I'm ashamed of the shape of my garden but so happy for the birds that love the chaos and all the plants that have gone to seed.

I should explain that I am in dry, dry California, and our best season for a lot of plants including lettuce, arugula and some others is the winter. We really did not have much of a winter this year. I have a tomato plant that volunteered way back in February and it is thriving. My basil from last year has gone to seed. Normally, basil dies out if it gets below 50 degrees Farenheit.

Anyway, this post is too long and probably boring to most people, but for the few who are interested, here it is.

[Solly Mack]

13. Hi! Not boring at all.

Birds do love a more natural yard. More places to hide and feed.

Thanks!

[JDPriestly]

15. I'm afraid my messy yard reflects my personality. I love all the secrets and surprises that my

"natural" garden reveals to me.

[Solly Mack]

16. I like the way you think then.

[TerrapinFlyer]

9. Great shots!

What shutter speed (the 7th photo of bird in flight) are you using?

We have quite a few hummingbirds in my years right now, I am going to setup a feeder near my window and try some shots.

[Solly Mack]

12. Thanks, TerrapinFlyer! 1/2500 for shutter speed.

Looking forward to your shots!

[Hekate]

10. Those are fantastic photos. I knew hummingbirds were really aggressive and territorial...

...but I thought they just dive bombed each other in threat displays -- didn't know it was knock down drag out combat. Wow.

[Solly Mack]

11. Thanks, Hekate.

They're fun to watch though.

[secondwind]

14. amazing photography! bravo!

[Solly Mack]

17. Thank you, secondwind.

[Fumesucker]

18. Love your shots

[Solly Mack]

20. Thanks, Fumesucker.

[brer cat]

19. I'm amazed that you were able to capture the fight.

You got some great shots! Thanks for sharing.

[Solly Mack]

21. Thanks, brer cat.

I was amazed any came out halfway decent. They were super fast and I kept turning around and around trying to keep up.

[Mira]

22. I just found this!

And now I am sitting here with this huge astounded grin on my face. You did this perfectly - great story and even better visuals.
Thanks for the Gecko you threw in - he is more like a chameleon. What a treat this whole thread is!

[Solly Mack]

25. Hi, Mira! Thanks!

I hope they fight again...I'll be ready for them. Which means they won't.

[annabanana]

23. Wow!

Hummingbirds are viciously territorial. I have never seen them grounded in battle before.

Great shots

[Solly Mack]

26. Thanks, annabanana!

I felt sorry for the little one on the ground.

[NV Whino]

24. Wow, I've never seen the little devils so vicious before

Great shots!

May I suggest some Kevlar for your next session.

[Solly Mack]

27. Thanks, NV Whino! They landed at my feet, on cement.

But both took off again - fighting.

I will confess to flinching when they got too close to my face.

[mnhtnbb]

28. I am amazed! I see hummer wars at my feeders all the time

but would never come close to getting any shots of them.

Wow!

[Solly Mack]

29. Thanks, mnhtnbb