TINY WARRIORS WITH WINGS: HUMMINGBIRDS ENGAGED IN A VERITABLE BATTLE IN A PHOTOGRAPHER’S YARD

On photographer Craig Emmerich’s property in Wisconsin, hummingbirds engaged in veritable aerial duels for access to a bird feeder. Emmerich captured the birds’ lightning-fast acrobatic movements, which occur in a split second.
Photographer Craig Emmerich from Wisconsin witnessed veritable aerial “warfare” — on his property near Minneapolis, hummingbirds engaged in spectacular duels for access to bird feeders. Emmerich captured a series of images capturing the incredible speed and acrobatic feats of these tiny birds.
Hummingbirds weigh less than a penny, but their wings beat up to 80 times per second, which requires a tremendous amount of energy. Therefore, the birds fiercely guard access to food sources. The photographer observed a female bird grabbing a rival bird by the beak and rotating completely in less than a third of a second, demonstrating veritable “martial arts” in the style of judo and jiu-jitsu.
The footage was captured with a Sony A1 camera at 30 frames per second and a 300mm lens, allowing him to capture the birds’ actions in minute detail. Emmerich shared the photos on the hummingbird enthusiasts’ Facebook community, where they quickly became popular.
According to the photographer, watching these fragile yet fierce birds is truly inspiring. The hummingbirds’ aerial battles continue, and Emmerich’s camera remains ready to capture further lightning-fast duels over feeders.