Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eating From My Hand (Part One) on Vimeo

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3. Russ Thompson's Enjoyable Hummingbirds

by Russ Thompson

2 years ago

2. Hand Feeding a Ruby-throated Hummingbird

by Russ Thompson

2 years ago

1. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eating From My Hand (Part One)

by Russ Thompson

3 years ago

In June of 2006 I was replacing empty feeders with clean ones and this hummingbird landed on the feeder as I was carrying it to the pole. I stopped instantly and stood perfectly still because motion will scare hummingbirds away. From this came the clips you will see in this video. It would eat from any feeder or cut flower that I would offer. Someone suggested I try to feed it directly from my palm and success came the first day I tried. This hummingbird continued this behavior until his 2006 migration to Central America. In April of 2007 he returned to the same little plot of land in Louisville, Ky for more of the same behavior.

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flatcat
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ponta
3 days ago
Beth Poole
2 weeks ago
Christian Zimmermann
2 weeks ago
Philip Pleasants
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Michelle Kristin
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Pablo Vazquez
1 month ago
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Anton W
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Andrea Allen 2 years ago

Amazing!
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Thanks for the comment - hummingbirds are amazing
Daniel Hayek 2 years ago

Beautiful! I love that the little guy came back the following year. Thanks for posting :)
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Amazingly they do quite often return to the same place summer after summer.
Blake Whitman 2 years ago

did it tickle?
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Out of all the times he ate from my palm, I never felt the tongue touch me.
brewcaster 2 years ago

I love the audio.
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

The sound of the wings or the clicking of the camera. LOL
Obscura 2 years ago

Cool.
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Thanks Obscura
Patrick Long 2 years ago

Amazing video. Long live the Hummingbird! By the way, cool watch. What is it? And the band?
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Thanks Patrick and the watch is a very basic Timex bought at WalMart. Hummingbird photography/videography is a great retirement hobby and I am sure it will be around forever.
Baly Cooley 2 years ago

WOW. Man, I hope I get to retire one day. I would do exactly this sort of thing all the time. Have you named them?
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Baly - I have never named one but lots of hummingbird fans do name them. My question is how do they know which one to call by the correct name. I can't tell them apart to be honest with you. I knew the male in this video by behavior but he looked just like other male hummingbirds.
Ian Lucero 2 years ago

Holy smokes! that's amazing that you got them to eat from your hand!
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Ian, It happened many times with that little hummer, but it still seems amazing that it ever happened. I haven't tried to get one to eat from my palm since him, but I have plenty each summer to eat from hand held feeders and feeder bases. That is close enough and not nearly as messy.
Martin Barnier 2 years ago

Some really incredible angles here, great video! They are such a fascinating animal.
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Thanks Martin,
They really are amazing little creatures and very smart.
Thug Esquire 2 years ago

I like birds.
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Thanks for commenting and they are a delight to watch.
Brad Miller 2 years ago

great shots! It's amazing that the same bird returned to the same spot the next year.
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

I was amazed he came back but it is not uncommon for them to return to the same summer home.
rastAsia 2 years ago

Did he come back with his family the following year?
:) Its beautiful to see the trust he bestows upon you. But he's also one hungry fella!!
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

A few weeks after leaving the nest hummingbirds become individuals that don't have anything to do, with mom or any other hummingbird, that would suggest they were ever part of a family. Dad hummingbirds have nothing to do with building the nest or helping raise the babies. Mom does that but stops doing anything for the babies when she feels they are ready to be on their own.
cvm 2 years ago

oh, watching this makes me soooo happy! thanks for sharing. They're such beautiful little creatures.
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Thanks for commenting - they are beautiful creatures and loved by many people. I look forward to their April visits all winter and arrival date is nearly here.
ramesh 2 years ago

fantastic recording
Russ Thompson 2 years ago

Thanks it is nice to know the video is enjoyed.
mike ambs 2 years ago

This is amazing :) I want to hang out with hummingbirds all day and get them to drink out of my hand!
jefftakaki 2 years ago

Wow!
elena elena 2 years ago

wonder cool!!
Polvorosa Kline 2 years ago

what a cool experience, hummingbirds are awesome, great video
Peter Stahl 1 year ago

Very cool!! :-)
Russ Thompson 1 year ago

Thanks to all who have commented and wow (Peter) I would like to have your camera/lens for my hummingbirds. LOL
Pennington Birds 1 year ago

Fantastic! Love your videos, thanks for sharing.
Chersteen Colby 10 months ago

So wonderful! I love hearing and seeing the hummer so close up! Just amazing---So envious! :-)