I have the same here every year. I just always assumed it was one letting
the other know  that is was it's necter not the others. Russell  Lima, Ohio
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dorothy Dawson-sheldon" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2010 11:43 AM
Subject: [Ohio-birds] hummingbird behavior


> Greetings
>
> We have 6 hummingbird feeders at  our house here in Wakeman, Lorain
> County, which are attracting a significant amount of Ruby Throated
> Hummingbirds. The last couple of days we've noticed a female would
> attack another female that was feeding. It seemed like it was sitting/
> hovering on the back of the other and pushing / or rather not
> allowing the other to raise it's head from the opening without being
> pecked in the head  . Both had their tails flared as we've seen when
> others are dominating a particular feeder. It only appears to be two
> hummers out of about a dozen that are behaving in this manner and
> only  on the platform type feeder. (It has openings in the top
> similar to the oriole feeder).
>
> We've pretty much ruled out that they are two different species.
> Perhaps they're just behaving like siblings?  The six feeders are
> spread out:  4  in the back yard along the deck railing with
> geranium baskets   scattered in between and 2 in the front among
> broom corn plants. The aggressive behavior is happening in the back
> only.
>
> Any input on what  is actually happening would be deeply appreciated.
> Cheers
> Dorothy & Doug
>
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