Do Cardinals Chase Away Hummingbirds? Seasonal Insights
Although cardinals are known as social, gentle, and friendly bird species, they are pretty famous as territorial birds. Yes, these birds exhibit aggressive behavior, like chasing off birdies. They chase away various birds but do cardinals chase away hummingbirds?
Cardinals don’t chase away hummingbirds or other birds under normal circumstances. They only display belligerent behaviors at certain times of each year, and at that time, they may chase off any birds, including hummingbirds.
So, when do cardinals get violent and chase various birds? What makes them show such aggression? We will find out all the answers through this content. Let’s begin.
Related blog about cardinals behavior:
When Do Cardinals Go Violent & Chase Away Hummingbirds?
In essence, cardinals become belligerent and exhibit the act of dominance over other birdies, including hummingbirds, three times each year, which are as follows:
- Early In The Mating Season
- Middle Of The Breeding Period
- During The Winter
Let’s discuss what causes cardinals to go hostile during these specific times of the year.
01. Early In The Mating Season:
Male cardinals spend most hours claiming the prime territory early in the mating season, and scouting out the best territory becomes their only job since it will help them attract their mates.
As you know, female cardinals choose male cardinals with bright red feathers, which have the best territories. By doing so, females ensure they will get enough food, nesting sites, and protection from intruders and predators.
Thus, male cardinals’ highest priority remains to own the best territory. And while claiming territories, cardinals don’t prefer birds, including hummingbirds, around their areas. If they find any, they will chase them away.
After spotting hummingbirds, blue jays, cardinals, or any other birdies in their territories, male cardinals fly toward them, peck at them and even bite them to fend off those intruders.
Male red cardinals use aggressive displays like crest-raising and rapid wing-flapping to deter hummingbirds, which are often chased due to their small size and nectar-feeding habits near cardinal territories.
This behavior is most intense in early spring, as noted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
02. Middle Of The Breeding Period:
After pairing up, the female cardinals lay eggs and incubate the eggs to hatch. During this time, male cardinals patrol their territories. [Read cardinals breeding period a to z]
And while patrolling, if they notice any invaders, even if they are hummingbirds, those male cardinals chase away hummingbirds.
This act may seem like cardinals are bullying other birdies, but in reality, they are just defending their territories and families.
During nesting, males may chase hummingbirds from nearby nectar feeders, mistaking their rapid movements for a threat. The Audubon Society notes that this defensive behavior peaks when protecting hatchlings.
03. During The Winter:
In winter, cardinals become violent due to food scarcity. They don’t migrate in winter like other migratory birdies. Instead, they forage for food in nearby places.
So, while searching for food, they become aggressive and chase them away if they find other birds like hummingbirds around their food sources. This act becomes necessary for cardinals to eliminate competition for food and to thrive on cold days.
Winter aggression is less common, as hummingbirds typically migrate south, but red cardinals may still defend seed feeders against other non-migratory birds like sparrows, as per National Geographic.
Cardinal Friendliness with Hummingbirds and Other Birds
Cardinals are social, gentle, and friendly bird species you can find in the wild. These birds are altruistic and are reported to share their food with other birds while feeding seeds from the same feeders.
Numerous backyard birders have witnessed the event regarding cardinals sharing food with other birds. For example, some birdwatchers have spotted cardinals sharing feeders with house finches, painted buntings, black-capped chickadees, sparrows, and more.
However, as cardinals don’t consume nectar, they aren’t recorded sharing bird feeders with hummingbirds.
But analyzing cardinals’ behaviors, we can conclude that if hummers visit cardinals’ feeders, these birdies won’t get bothered. Instead, they will share their food with hummingbirds too. In short, they are friendly with hummingbirds except when cardinals get territorial.
Their non-aggressive interactions are most evident outside breeding season, where they tolerate hummingbirds at mixed feeders if food is abundant, supporting their social nature as noted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. Do Cardinals Get Along With Hummingbirds?
Although orioles, chickadees, house finches, and many other birds are seen to get along with hummingbirds, none witnessed cardinals getting along with hummers.
But avian experts believe that cardinals can have a friendly relationship with hummingbirds under various circumstances.
Shared feeder observations show they tolerate hummingbirds in fall when territorial instincts are low, per Audubon Society.
02. Do Cardinals Kill Hummingbirds?
No, cardinals don’t kill hummingbirds, as cardinals aren’t predatory. But they can chase hummingbirds during the breeding season, and why do they do this? We have already shared the answer in this content.
Chasing is purely defensive; no evidence suggests they cause fatal harm to hummingbirds, as confirmed by National Geographic.
03. Are Hummingbirds Afraid Of Cardinals?
Hummingbirds fear every living being more extensive than their body size, and cardinals fall into this category. So, hummingbirds are afraid of them.
Their fear is heightened during aggressive displays, as their small size makes them vulnerable to chasing, per Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
04. Do Cardinals Attack Hummingbirds?
It depends on the circumstances. Hummingbirds might get attacked if they enter cardinals’ territories during the breeding season. But other times, hummingbirds are safe to stay around them.
Attacks are rare and limited to chasing, not physical harm, especially near nectar feeders in spring.
05. Do Cardinals Chase Away Each Other Or Other Birds?
Yes, cardinals chase away each other or other birds. They perform this job to protect their hatchlings during the breeding period. At this time, cardinals frequently show aggression toward other birds.
Intra-species chasing is common among males in spring to establish dominance, as noted by Audubon Society.
Tips for Observing Red Cardinal and Hummingbird Interactions
Best Times: Watch in early spring to see territorial chasing behaviors.
Binoculars: Use binoculars to observe interactions at feeders without disturbing them.
Feeders: Place seed and nectar feeders apart to reduce competition.
Plant Cover: Dense shrubs attract red cardinals, while nectar-rich flowers draw hummingbirds, allowing safe observation.
Final Words:
Usually, cardinals don’t chase away hummingbirds or other birdies, and they are one of the friendliest bird species out in the wild. But due to their survival instincts and breeding season, these lovely, stunning cardinals can take their anger out on hummers and other birds.
However, this is all about whether cardinals chase away hummingbirds or not. We hope you get the answer you were searching for. If this content helps you, you can do us a favor by sharing this article on Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest. Happy Birding!
