The Zeiger Family Homestead Blog

If you have hummingbirds around your home, you know how fascinating these tiny birds are. For all their apparent ineffable delicacy, they are tough little suckers! Among all the birds around us, the hummingbird may be the most self-assured of them all. I don’t believe they know fear! When we enter the dooryard, we often duck from at least one buzzing run, often more. Sometimes it’s curiosity, particularly if we’re wearing red. Sometimes they hover near us to eat the mosquitoes we attract. Other times they’re reminding us it’s time to refill the feeder. Most often, though, we just happen to be in the way. Because, more than food, more than nectar, it seems these tiny creatures crave battle.

Dogfight! (Photo: Mark Zeiger)

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