Date: 06/12/2022

Number: 4

Minimum of four ruby-throated hummingbirds, two male and two females observed near feeder. Activity around feeder has diminished some over the past week or so, with females likely tending eggs/young as mating behavior was observed as early as mid-May.

Pictured is an adult possibly a new female that came to the feeder and perched. As she watched him, the dominant male quickly appeared and made over thirty passes in his swing dance, flaring and flashing his brilliant golden gorget before tapping her on the back of the neck with his beak as she spun and lifted off and they spun off together.

Another amazing display observed a few days ago: a female (RTHB, possibly the one-year-old 'runt') came to the feeder and fed from several ports on the feeder. The dominant male appeared and she defiantly kept drinking while taking pecks on the back of the neck from the male. Then she perched on a port and the male took several swipes at her and finally tried to mount her right there on the feeder! With that she had enough and fled.

Gulliver, MI

Latitude: 46.1 Longitude: -86.1

Observed by: James
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