Are Hummingbirds Territorial? (When, Why + How To Stop Feeder Aggression)

Hummingbirds are often associated with emotions like joy and joy, but their beauty belies a dark side. These small birds are very territorial, and they have no trouble using violence to defend their space.

However, their aggressiveness is an important survival strategy, and the evolution of this behavior has ensured the success of various hummingbird species in North, Central and South America.

Hummingbirds are highly territorial, and this behavior benefits them in many ways. Most notably, it provides food security and improves their chances of reproducing and successfully passing on their genes. Male hummingbirds are usually the most aggressive, but females will also defend their nests during the breeding season.

If you’re like many American bird lovers who feed hummingbirds, you’ve probably seen these behaviors around your own feeders. Knowing their territorial behavior and knowing how to minimize conflict around breeders can make your backyard a more peaceful place.

Read on to learn more about why hummingbirds are so territorial and how these aggressive behaviors benefit their survival.

Two female broad-tailed hummingbirds fighting

Why are hummingbirds so territorial?

Hummingbirds are territorial because the resources they need are often limited and do not spread randomly across the landscape. Nectar is a very important part of a hummingbird’s diet, and this food source is very seasonal and can be restricted to small, specific areas.

Hummingbirds will try to protect areas with abundant food resources and prevent others from getting their share. However, these areas can be very small. In areas with abundant food resources, the dominant male’s territory may be less than 20 yards wide.

The territoriality of hummingbirds also serves another important function when it comes to reproduction. Male hummingbirds will establish their own territories and show them to females.

The quality of breeding grounds is an important signal of female health. The amount of food in the territory, as well as the distance of the territory from the female’s nesting area, are important factors.

Aggression and territorial behavior are important for surviving hummingbirds as resources are often limited

How do hummingbirds protect themselves?

Hummingbirds are highly competitive and will often fight to secure food resources. These birds may be small, but they are well equipped to fight and defend territories with other hummingbirds.

Hummingbird beaks are primarily used to obtain nectar from tubular flowers, but their sword-like shape also makes them great weapons for attacking and defending others. They can even use their incredible speed and sharp beaks to attack birds much larger than them.

Hummingbirds are very agile and fast creatures, which makes them very capable in combat. When an intruder steals food from a flower or feeder, the dominant bird can use its tiny feet to accurately grab the intruder’s bill. They can also use their extraordinary speed and agility to escape predators. If a predator manages to grab their tail, their feathers fall off, allowing the bird to escape unscathed.

Hummingbirds don’t just rely on physical violence to defend their territory, however. Sounding a warning sound is a safer, less energy-intensive way to deter would-be thieves from leaving their property.

Hummingbirds use “chip” calls to warn of intruders, but they also combine this call with physically chasing rivals.

Two Sword-billed Hummingbirds (Ensifera ensifera) fight with their long beaks

When Do Hummingbirds Acquire Territory?

Hummingbirds gain territory when they defend valuable food sources, show females good breeding grounds, and when females protect their nests.

Hummingbirds are usually most territorial during the breeding season, although they can be territorial year-round. The exact timing of the breeding season varies by species.

Anna’s Hummingbird (geranium) from the west coast of the United States and typically breed between December and July, for example, while the familiar ruby-throated hummingbird (frog) of the eastern variety from April to September.

Some hummingbird species are more aggressive than others, and it doesn’t always depend on size. Rufous Hummingbird (Red Spot Mackerel), for example, often dominate larger species around feeders and natural food sources.

These migrating hummingbirds are aggressive any time of the year, but they are especially aggressive during migration because they require large amounts of food to fuel their flight.

Although rufous hummingbirds are small, they can be very bold and will dominate larger hummingbird species, especially at feeders

Are female hummingbirds territorial?

Some hummingbird females are territorial during the breeding season. They guard the area around their nests, although they may also guard nearby food sources. Female hummingbirds may benefit from conserving food resources during breeding season, as they need to maintain enough energy to incubate eggs and feed hummingbird chicks without the help of males.

Are Hummingbirds Territorial to Humans?

Hummingbirds are not territorial to humans. They may become bolder and more docile through backyard habits, but they may not see us as competitors for nectar or nests.

Mom is feeding a baby hummingbird

Are hummingbirds more territorial than feeders?

Hummingbirds have learned to recognize feeders as valuable food sources, and they will protect them as much as natural food sources like flowering plants. They are particularly territorial with concentrated food sources, so attacks around feeders are very common.

Dominant hummingbirds don’t just protect a single nectar feeder. These lively birds will do their best to protect any feeders in the immediate area, especially if they can see each other.

Read on to learn how to minimize hummingbird attacks on your nectar feeders.

Two hummingbirds share a feeder

How to stop hummingbirds from competing for feeders?

Hummingbirds are aggressive animals by nature, so if you have more than one hummingbird in your yard but only one feeder, you may get into a conflict. A dominant hummingbird will usually try to protect a single nectar feeder from other visitors, although he may be willing to share.

The best way to stop hummingbirds from competing for feeders is to have multiple feeders in different parts of the yard. Choose multiple hummingbird feeders with a small number of feeding openings rather than just one hummingbird feeder with multiple feeding openings. A physical barrier that blocks the line of sight or a hummingbird feeder separated by plants will prevent most territorial aggressions.

Another great way to reduce fights is to provide other hummingbirds with more food sources. Planting native flowering plants is an excellent way to provide plenty of natural food for hummingbirds in your area.

If food sources are scattered, attracting many birds, the most dominant bird cannot hold the entire area without exhausting its strength.

Setting up multiple feeders can prevent multiple hummingbirds from using and competing for one feeder

Are hummingbirds aggressive towards other birds?

Hummingbirds can be very aggressive towards other hummingbird species around food sources because they have to compete for the same resources.This behavior is called interspecies attack.

Hummingbirds don’t just show aggression toward other hummingbirds, however. These brave little birds have been known to harass birds of prey, a behavior known as siege. Hummingbirds have been seen mobbing raptors such as Cooper’s hawks and owls.

A 1956 study using taxidermy owls showed just how bold Anna’s hummingbirds could be. These aggressive hummingbirds hover over the owl’s head, trying to poke it in the eye with their sharp beaks!

Black-jawed hummingbird flies to pride of Madeira flower

Do hummingbirds fight to the death?

Hummingbirds generally avoid all-out physical confrontation whenever possible because the risk of injury is high. Chasing and vocalizing are often enough to resolve territorial disputes. However, when a fight does break out, the birds usually back off before serious injury or death can occur.

Hummingbirds have been known to kill each other in the heat of battle. These birds have very fast metabolisms and require a steady daily supply of food to survive. In situations where food is scarce, subordinate hummingbirds may be forced to fight to the death if the food is guarded by the dominant individual.

What would you do if a hummingbird attacked you?

Hummingbirds rarely, if ever, attack humans. However, habitual birds can be quite bold and will occasionally fly very close to people. There’s no reason to be afraid of these birds, but if you’re uncomfortable with their behavior, it may be wise to leave the area.