Attack Of Killer Zip

Zippy hates to share.  Always has.  The little Costa's hummingbird has been defending this his territory for two full years.  He arrived in my backyard in September of 2013 and has never left.  Not for the winter.  Not ever.

This is only the third time I have caught a mid-air battle "on film."  They are lightening quick as they do their dance - Zippy as the aggressor, the other bird trying to stave off injury, while perhaps still getting a sip of that nectar so tantalizingly close.

Zippy was still in pursuit as I saw them fly off. He is one tenacious bird.  There are other smart hummers around though, and sometimes when they see him fly off in battle, they swoop in on the feeder to lap up some of the sweetness at their leisure.

If Zippy was part of the mob he could be the leader of the Zip-onostra and have wise guys back him up.  But he only messes with other hummers. Like a good gangster, he knows when to pick his battles over turf, so he lets bigger birds drink when they see fit.

He's tough and smart.