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Birding/Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

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Expert: - 4/7/2008


Question
I have seen pictures of groups (4-5) Hummingbirds at a feeder, but when we get one, and another one comes along, they twirl and fight in the air and eventually both fly away.  Am I seeing another species of hummingbird in the pictures, and our Rubies are an aggressive species? Or is this unusual?

Answer
You don't say where you live but I'm guessing east of the Mississippi River where only Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are found. There are no other species of hummingbirds in the eastern US. Ruby throated Hummingbirds are aggressive in defending their territories and food sources.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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