Do hummingbirds attack humans? This is a question that many people have, and it’s one that doesn’t have a definitive answer.
Some people say that hummingbirds are just curious and won’t attack unless they feel threatened, whereas others say that they’ve been dive-bombed by these tiny birds before.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the temperament of hummingbirds and try to answer the question once and for all!
Do Hummingbirds Attack Humans?
The simple answer to this question is no – hummingbirds don’t attack humans. If you’ve ever seen the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock thriller, “The Birds,” you might imagine a similar scene, but with these little creatures zooming around instead.
Although it’s true that hummingbirds can be aggressive toward other birds – sometimes even to the point of killing them – they don’t typically go after humans.
In fact, most of the time when a hummingbird appears to be attacking a human, it’s because they mistake us for a threat, which is understandable, given our size compared to theirs.
This is especially common during the breeding season when male hummingbirds are trying to protect their territory from other males. It’s not uncommon to see a single male hummingbird guarding a hummingbird feeder, claiming it as its own.
This level of territorial behavior often results in a quick zoom close up to your face, but seldom goes any further. They see us as a threat and will try to chase us away. However, once they realize we’re not a threat, they usually back off and leave us alone.
So, if you’re ever on the receiving end of a hummingbird’s aggression, don’t worry, they’re not actually trying to hurt you. More likely than not, they just see you as a potential threat to their territory and are trying to scare you off. If that doesn’t work, they’ll probably just fly away and leave you alone.
So there’s no need to be afraid of these tiny birds – they’re more scared of us than we are of them!
Why Do Hummingbirds Fly Close to Your Face?
More often than not, hummingbirds are looking for food. Their tiny bodies require them to eat constantly. They eat about half of their body weight in bugs and nectar every day. Can you imagine eating half of your own body weight every day?
They also feed at least once every 10 to 15 minutes. So, if you’re ever outside and a hummingbird starts flying close to your face, it’s probably because they think you have food.
Although most of us don’t carry around food specifically for hummingbirds, they have often been conditioned to think that you might. Many hummingbird gardeners will intentionally put out hummingbird feeders, which are basically just sugar water.
The sugar content in these feeders is similar to what’s found in flowers, which is the hummingbirds’ natural food source.
Over time, hummingbirds learn that people often have food for them, and they start to associate us with a food source. This is why you might see a hummingbird flying close to your face or even landing on you (not that common) – they’re just looking for a quick snack!
So if you ever find yourself in this situation, don’t worry, they’re not trying to hurt you. Chances are, they’re just hungry.
In other cases though, hummingbirds may actually be acting aggressive toward you. If you are walking through a bushy area where there are no bird feeders around and a hummingbird gets in your face, it’s possible that you have gotten too close to a nest.
Although they’re basically harmless otherwise, you don’t want to go messing around with a hummingbird’s nest. The mother bird will definitely become aggressive and may even attack you if she feels you’re a threat to her young.
Male hummingbirds are also extremely territorial, so keep a close lookout for nests and try to keep your distance from them. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s best to just back away slowly and give the hummingbird some space. They will likely fly off quickly anyway.
Are Hummingbirds Dangerous?
No, hummingbirds are not dangerous. Although they may be aggressive in some cases, they’re really not capable of doing any irreparable damage.
However, it’s important to keep a close eye on their beaks. They are long and sharp, but that’s not to say that they will use it to gouge your eyes out – just as a notice of precaution.
So if you ever find yourself on the receiving end of a hummingbird’s aggression, don’t worry, they are probably not actually trying to hurt you. More likely than not, they just see you as a potential threat to their territory and are trying to scare you off, or as we already said, they think you have food.
How to Attract Hummingbirds
If you’re interested in attracting hummingbirds to your yard or garden, there are a few things you can do. First, as we mentioned before, you can put out a hummingbird feeder. Sugar water is essentially all they need, but you should try making this simple nectar recipe for them.
You can also plant flowers that attract them. Some good examples include: red daylilies, cardinal flowers, hibiscus, and coral bells. If you have a lot of trees, you can also put up a hummingbird feeder near one of them.
That way, the birds will have a place to perch while they’re feeding, though most often they feed while hovering in place.
Just be sure to keep an eye on your feeders and change the sugar water every few days to prevent bacteria growth. You should also clean the feeders with soap and warm water every time you refill it to get rid of any grime that might have built up.
Make sure to scrub it well, and rinse so that no soapy residue is left behind. This will actually deter the birds from returning, so make sure to rinse well. Other than that, just sit back and enjoy watching these beautiful creatures flit around your yard!
Will Hummingbirds Begin to Recognize Me?
Yes, hummingbirds will begin to recognize you if they see you often enough. In fact, they may eventually feel comfortable flying close to you, but not around anyone else.
They are very intelligent creatures and they will quickly learn that you are not a threat.
Hummingbirds are actually one of the smartest species of birds in the world and are extremely observant, especially when it comes to the places they feed. So if they see you refilling their source of food regularly, there’s a high possibility that they will welcome you every time you return with more food.
If you are someone who likes to garden or spend time outdoors, then you will probably have more interactions with hummingbirds than the average person. Over time, they will become more comfortable around you and may even start to fly close to your face or land on you.
So if you ever find yourself in this situation, don’t worry, they’re not trying to hurt you. Chances are, they’re just curious. They might even drink nectar from your hand if you are patient enough to try!
What If There Are Lots of Aggressive Males in My Yard?
If you find that there are a lot of aggressive males in your yard, it might be because they see you as a threat to their territory. If this is the case, try to avoid spending too much time near their nests and give them some space.
You can also try putting up a couple of extra hummingbird feeders in different parts of your yard so that the birds can spread out and don’t have to compete for food.
Another thing you can do is make sure that there are plenty of flowers for them to feed from. This will help to keep them distracted and away from the feeders.
If all else fails, you can always contact a local bird expert or nature center for advice on how to deal with aggressive or territorial hummingbirds. It happens on occasion, and usually it’s just due to the time of year. Sometimes all an aggressive male needs is a female to win over.
So whether a stubborn male is being aggressive toward you, your pets, or other birds, try spacing the feeders out more so that everyone has room to feed and relax. If that doesn’t work, you can always try moving the feeders to a different part of your yard.
Just remember, these are tiny creatures with big personalities, so it’s important to give them the space and respect they deserve.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, hummingbirds are very curious creatures and they will often approach humans out of curiosity. However, they are not aggressive by nature and will only become aggressive if they feel threatened or if their territory is being invaded.
If you find yourself having problems with aggressive hummingbirds, try to give them more space and provide them with plenty of food so that they are not in competition with each other.
Most importantly, enjoy watching these beautiful creatures flit around your yard, and remember, they don’t attack.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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