Dive-Bombing Hummingbird

Flowers on the Hillside

Robyn and I were in California for a church visit over the week-end.  Since this is spring, I took my camera along to take some pictures of the blooming wildflowers.  While on an early morning hike prior to our flight back to Indianapolis we came across an Allen’s hummingbird sitting on a branch.  All of the sudden the male flies up a few feet in the air and hovers then.

California Poppy

Then, he flew straight up into the air for about 50 or 100 feet and hovered for a few seconds.

Then the hummer dive-bombed back to the branch and just before hitting it broke out of his dive with a loud popping sound.  This happened four or five times, then Robyn saw the male and the female from the same bush fly off together.

This courtship display reminded me of something.  Robyn said we had watched a program on television about this very activity.  They were using a very fast camera so that they could slow down the flight to discover what made the popping sound.  Some had said it was a vocalization; others were not so sure.  The research indicated that the sound comes from the tail feathers as the bird breaks out of his dive-bombing.

I believe them.  I saw it. I heard it. And it was one of the most fascinating displays of courtship I can imagine.