Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!apple!oliveb!oliven!mjm
From: mjm@oliven.olivetti.com (Michael Mammoser)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Hummers: What is it they are doing?!!!
Message-ID: <56090@oliveb.olivetti.com>
Date: 5 Mar 90 21:40:26 GMT
References: <2562@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM>
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In article <2562@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM>, donnam@palomar.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Donna Mitchell) writes:
> 
> But, a question:  Over the years I have noticed this aerobatic trick that
> the hummers do:  They fly straight up in the air...very high.  Then, drop
> straight back to earth (wings tucked in), and at the last moment swoop
> back upwards and make a wistle-pop sound.  (It's like making a big "J")

	If you look closely at the point they are diving to, you will
generally find a female hummingbird. Your description sounds like the
courtship display of the Anna's Hummingbird.

	They may also use this as an aggression display against other
bird species. I once saw an Anna's Hummingbird doing this to a Bushtit.

Mike