Hummingbird Dance: 5 Interpretive Explanations

Everybody knows hummingbirds are fast aerodynamic birds. The mesmerizing movements of hummingbirds often appear as if they are dancing—but what are they really doing? While they do not dance in the human sense, their agile flights, sudden dives, and graceful hovering serve specific purposes. 

In this article, I will interpret five explanations behind the reasoning of these dancing acrobats.

Do hummingbirds dance?

Hummingbirds do not dance like humans or some other birds, but their dance can be interpreted in five easy explanations. They perform elaborate aerial displays to defend their territory, attract mates, engage in a feeder exchange, catch insects in mid-flight or even for nest forming that can look like dancing.

Each type of interpreted dancing performed by these birds provides some insight into the life of a hummingbird.

Territorial Dance

Male hummingbirds are territorial and aggressively protect their food sources, breeding areas, and fight for a female’s attention.

Hummingbirds may look like they are “dancing” while defending feeders and flowers, using quick darting motions, side-to-side hovering, and flashing their gorgets (throat feathers).

Male hummingbirds establish breeding territories in preparation to entice a female for courtship.
They will claim and defend an area rich in nectar-producing flowers and feeders, while chasing away intruders as they prepare for courtship displays and mating rituals.

Once the male hummingbird is triumphant in catching the eye of a female hummingbird he begins his hummingbird courtship dance.

While protecting a large diverse foliage area, male hummingbirds have the advantage in engaging in a hide and seek dancing game with a female during courtship as well as providing potential nesting sites for expecting mothers.

Courtship Behavior Dance

Hummingbirds can look like they are “dancing” by courting one another in anticipation for procreation. Males will stop at nothing and do not care if they look foolish to grab the attention of a potential beautiful female mate. Male hummingbirds perform courtship dives before mating. 

Two Common Hummingbird
Courtship Dives:

• The first common courtship behavior is a dive display.
  Male hummingbirds will fly as high as 130 feet up in the air and do a quick dive bomb next to or near a perched female.
  This dance shows off his athleticism, desirable traits and talent which may catch a female’s attention.
• The second common courtship behavior is called the shuttle display.
  Just like the dive display a female is perched once again while the male will fly up behind her and swing his tail from side-to-side in an intimate dancing pattern while making buzzing calls or noises above her.

From Darwin’s theory of natural selection, female hummingbirds evaluate a male’s desirable biological traits through his strength in his athletic flying capabilities. Anything else that is subpar will be rejected.

If the male hummingbird does everything correctly, his methods to impress a potential female will be ultimately rewarded.

Read my article:
Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting)

This communication display can look like a hummingbird is dancing, but we now know it is part of a courtship dance.

Feeder Dance

Around feeders, hummingbirds sometimes engage in hovering face-offs that can look like synchronized choreography as they assess each other or attempt to assert dominance.
Their behavior can appear dance-like to observers, even though it is not technically dancing.

Ready my article:
Why Hummingbirds Chase Each Other: Is it Friend or Foe?

Protein Snack Dance

Have you ever seen hummingbirds zig-zagging in your yard like a pinball? They are not chasing rivals or courting—so what are they up to?

If you look closely, you will find hummingbirds snatching small bugs out of the air such as gnats, fruit flies, and mosquitoes in mid-flight using quick darting maneuvers.
Hummingbirds can also pluck insects and spiders from spider webs.

Composting in your backyard will attract fruit flies or gnats which will entice hummingbirds to display their frequent protein-catching dance for you.

Part of a hummingbird’s meal plan consists of consuming bugs for protein as they do not rely on a clear liquid nectar diet alone. The protein helps build muscle and fulfill their nutritional needs, especially during breeding season when energy demands are high.

Read my article:
Hummingbird Diet: From Nectar to Insects

Read my article:
Do Hummingbirds Eat Mosquitoes?

To get the required amount of protein for a healthy diet, an adult hummingbird must eat several dozen insects each day.

Experts say consuming spiders is the number one protein of choice for hummingbirds.
They estimate up to 80% of a hummingbird’s protein consumption is from spiders.

Nest Forming Dance

Female hummingbirds use their feet in subtle but important ways during nest building and play a key role in forming, securing, and shaping a nest structure.

First, female hummingbirds jump up and down on a vine, branch or outdoor string of lights to check its durability and support for a potential nest. They also add spider silk to the nest and use their feet like a jackhammer to mold and shape the nest. These movements can be mistaken as “dancing”.

Hummingbirds frequently visit spider webs not only for fulfilling their protein consumption of spiders, but spider webs are the tool of choice in constructing and building nests.

Read my article:
Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling)

One year, I noticed a hummingbird frequently perching on a string of lights under the eave in my backyard, near a feeder. At first, her repetitive flying, hovering, and perching seemed odd—almost like a strange little dance.

Curious, I watched more closely and realized she was a female searching for the perfect nesting spot. Once she chose the site, she began gathering spider silk—nature’s glue—using her beak like a spinning spindle to collect it.

She returned repeatedly to press and smooth the silk onto the nest base. Between trips, she stamped her feet rapidly and rotated her body to mold the nest into shape. From a distance, her actions looked like dancing, but they were purposeful and precise—building a strong, flexible home for new life.

Do hummingbirds become territorial around feeders?

Hummingbirds are highly territorial around feeders, especially when food sources are limited or during breeding seasons.
Males guard feeders aggressively to defend feeders and protect their food supply, while females will defend a nectar-rich feeder to help teach their young how to locate and access food.

Nectar is their main fuel, food, and energy source, therefore they guard multiple hummingbird feeders to ensure they have exclusive access. Male’s who defend feeder sources also show and demonstrate to a potential female she will never go hungry.

This advantageous trait is particularly valued to an admiring female since it signals to her that a suitor is able to provide her with the necessary food sources and most importantly to her offspring, which is imperative for survival.

Male hummingbirds are the most aggressive and territorial around feeders, protecting their food sources, as they chase away any unwanted visitors.
They often choose a prime perch nearby and dive at intruders, chirping or chasing them off.

You may experience seeing a fearless male hummingbird stand his ground and not be intimidated.
They will fight and harass each other like a pendulum ball swinging from side to side until the weaker male gives up and retreats.

Male hummingbirds will look like the Energizer Bunny and will tirelessly continue to protect their feeding grounds.

Female hummingbirds are territorial too, especially when nesting and needing nearby food for themselves and their chicks. They also defend and chase other male suitors away from their prime breeding or feeding locations.

Species matters as some of the worst offenders who show dire tempers are the Rufous and Ruby-throated hummingbirds, while others such as the Anna’s hummingbirds are slightly more tolerant when defending feeders.

The times of the year you will see this extra aggressive behavior is in late spring or early summer during courtship season.

To reduce feeder fights, try spacing multiple feeders out of sight from each other and adding more perching locations.

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions