Hummingbird Sex — XXX Rated
Hummingbird mating is a lot like other bird mating rituals with a few quirks based on the
size and limitations of hummingbirds. Since hummingbirds can't walk or hop, the hummingbird
nesting season and hummingbird mating details are a bit different than that of other birds.
Hummingbird Foreplay
Males go to serious lengths to impress females.
A male hummingbird will dance and sing.
Males perform a 'courtship dive,' flying up to 60 feet in
the air and then suddenly arc and head straight down
toward the female
When the male is within inches of her head, he'll pull up,
and fly back to 60 feet and start all over again
Hummingbird nesting season and mating season begins in early spring. In mid to late March,
hummingbirds return from their southern winter migration.
Males of most hummingbird species typically return north 1 to 2 weeks ahead of females to scout
out and establish their mating territory. Mating grounds are chosen for the prevalence of food
sources, most important among them nectar-yielding flowers.
Although hummingbird migration is not well documented by large numbers of banding
records, we do know a few facts, and we can draw logical inferences about some
of the unknown areas. (banding means trapping a bird and wrapping a tiny numbered
strip of aluminum around one leg).
Female hummingbirds build their nests before mating, a process that takes less than a week. They
generally use strands of spider web as a base to attach the nest to a branch or, less frequently, to
a leaf or a rock crevice. Once complete, the nest is insulated, lined with thistle down, dandelion, or
other soft plant materials. Exteriors are often decorated with lichens, which help camouflage the nest.
Male hummingbirds defend their mating territory. They aggressively drive away other males
with typical hummingbird aggression during the hummingbird mating season. The male may
spread his tail or ruffle his feathers in order to look larger. Most birds also use loud noises or
the display dive to send away the intruder male.
Once the female hummingbirds arrive, the males begin the process of attracting their mates.
The main component of the ritual is energetic and showy flight. Besides looping and zigzag
patterns, males will fly anywhere from 50 to 150 feet up into the air, then plummet straight
down to the ground, pulling up just before impact.
Other displays male hummingbirds engage in to win a mate include singing, showing off their
feathers, especially in the sunlight, and flapping their wings as fast as possible to create the
loudest humming sound they can.
It is the female who chooses her mate in all species. Male hummingbirds are aggressive in
attracting females. Sometimes the female leads the male to the spot where she has constructed
her nest. The male will emit loud courtship calls or start the courtship display.
She usually shows her interest by pointing her bill at him. But when she isn't interested or ready,
the female flies away.
It makes sense that hummingbirds would mate midair -- they do everything else in the air, and
their legs are all but useless. They could probably pull it off, too, what with their ability to hover.
But do these birds actually copulate in flight?
When a male hummingbird is courting a female, after he performs some aerial moves to show her
how strong, controlled and just generally fantastic he is, the female may join the show. On occasion,
if the female enjoys the show, she'll starting moving in the air with him. This can sometimes look
like they're actually mating in the air because they can get very close. In fact, hummingbirds often
get right up in each other's faces.
Hummingbird sex only lasts from 3 to 5 seconds. As male hummingbirds have no external
penis, no actual penetration takes place. Instead, the male presses his cloaca (posterior
opening) against the female's, and sperm is passed along to fertilize the female's eggs.
Male hummingbirds will do a sort of "dance off" when fighting over territory, and several hummingbirds
will get together to chase off an outsider.
Appearances aside, hummingbirds don't actually mate in midair. Their legs may not be able to walk or
bounce, but they can perch. Hummingbirds are able to stand on branches, and that's where they copulate.
After a female accepts a talented suitor, she'll perch on a branch and wait for the male to mount her from
behind.
About 4 seconds later, the mated pair leaves each other and never looks back. The male goes to look
for another female to mate with, and the female goes off to build a nest.
It’s nesting time! Birds are master builders, putting together intricately made weavings of twig
and leaf, stem and fluff, hair and moss
Take this quick quiz and see how much you know about hummingbirds. This quiz is intended for
fun, in a random-facts-can-be-cool kind of way.
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