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Hummingbird's Kissing In Flight

Throughout the hummingbird family, courtship and mating follow a few distinct patterns.
Many North American species rely on a specialized style of flight...
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Throughout the hummingbird family, courtship and mating follow a few distinct patterns.
Many North American species rely on a specialized style of flight displays.
The male typically arrives first and establishes a territory usually rich in nectar producing flowers.
He will chase off all other males and hopes the flowers attract females to dine.

The flowers entice the females to feed and he pretends to chase them off.
Then the male hummer goes into his mating ritual.
Spectacular patterns of flight. Often doing maneuvers that would put the Navy's "Blue Angels" to shame.
Flying in a "J", a "U", or an "O" often positioning himself so the sunlight reflects of the colorful gorget (Pronounced gor-jet).
There may be some peeps and chatter added to the dance.

Prior to the Hummingbirds Mating, the female builds the nest of plant materials, grasses, animal hair, and lichen.
Spider webs are used as the mortar.
The strong sticky substance of spider webbing holds it all together and attached the nest well in place.
After mating, she is on her own and defends her nesting territory even from the mating male.
Depending on the species of hummer, the nest can be situated in ground covers to high in a tree.
Often the nest is camouflaged to look like it is part of the tree itself; keeping would be predators from locating her little packages.
Sometimes they are directly over water or attached to manmade objects.
Finding a nest is more luck than anything else.
Nests are about the size of a half dollar or golf ball cut in half.
Hummingbirds Mating is fast as well, lasting 3 to 5 seconds.
There is no penetration, as male hummingbirds do not have an external penis.
Their cloaca's are pressed together and the sperm moves from the male to the female.

This act is called a cloacal kiss.
He's done his part
Hummingbirds mating is quick and simple.
Now the rest is up to the female, while he waits for more ladies to come by.
The mated female will lay to navy bean sized eggs usually two days apart.
After the second egg is laid, incubation begins.
Incubation can be between 12 and 15 days, tack on a couple more days if the temperatures are cooler.
The babies are taken care of by mom as she does the brooding, feeding and house keeping.
A super mom, she does all of this and still finds time to feed herself and look good for us.
Through this time, the male is mating with other females.
Count yourself one of the chosen few if you have witnessed hummingbirds mating.
Youngsters are fed a diet of nectar and minute insects. Protein counts for nine to ten percent of a babies diet, three times more protein required by an adult.
In about three to four weeks, the youngsters are fully feathered and outgrown the nest.
Mom continues to feed the fledglings for another week or so, but after that they are now considered competition for her food sources and chases them away.
While some hummers tolerate each other, Ruby-throated hummingbirds will continue to chase each other from food sources.
Summer is winding down and mating is the last thing on a hummingbirds mind.
It is wise to have more than one feeder and flower beds if possible.

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11 Comments | Report
trainwoman Platinum
 
trainwoman September 13, 2015
Entertaining little charmers
1Ernesto
1Ernesto September 13, 2015
The sure can put on an air show. I had my camera on sport mode because it takes 14 shots per second and remains in focus, without that I never would get this shot.
valeriemurchie-stolpe
 
valeriemurchie-stolpe September 18, 2015
Awesome!
1Ernesto
1Ernesto September 25, 2015
If I have a live action photo in my gallery - it for sure is this one.
Flosno
 
Flosno November 05, 2015
Magical capture
1Ernesto
1Ernesto November 05, 2015
Thanks! I love as you say the "Magical Capture" of this live action photo.
kathleenweetman
 
kathleenweetman December 13, 2015
Pure genius Ernesto....The speed they move at ...I diont think I would have managed at all. Enjoyed the description too...Voted ...Kathleen
1Ernesto
1Ernesto December 13, 2015
You could manage with a camera that is fast enough, this camera on sport mode takes 14 frames per second. Thank you very much for the vote.
kathleenweetman
 
kathleenweetman January 08, 2016
Voted ..in flight comp...k
JDLifeshots
 
JDLifeshots January 19, 2016
Great capture! Voted One in a Million.
kathleenweetman
 
kathleenweetman February 14, 2016
Voted in Covers 27....This is an incredible thing to see and even more ..to photograph...k
Flosno
 
Flosno February 26, 2016
This HAS TO BE A WINNER
barbaramillesrobinson PRO+
 
barbaramillesrobinson March 17, 2016
Amazing photo. Voted OPEN WINGS. Good luck, Ernesto!
1Ernesto
1Ernesto March 17, 2016
Thanks for the vote and well wishes. This live action photo has a lot going for it and I'm always amazed how their little feet appear so clear in this composition.
JDLifeshots
 
JDLifeshots August 02, 2016
Great capture Ernesto! Wow, you are a walking encyclopedia for sure! Voted The Kiss.
1Ernesto
1Ernesto August 02, 2016
I can take credit for making the photo but not the information. I research the information on-line from as many creditable places I can find and then usually reduce it to the most succint / accurate.......
kathleenweetman
 
kathleenweetman March 05, 2017
This is really amazing Ernesto....Their speed is well known. I couldn't capture anything this quick.... I love the shot....Voted ..k
1Ernesto
1Ernesto March 05, 2017
You captured my heart that quick, if possible even quicker than a hummingbird...Thanks for the vote
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