iN VIDEO: Lively hummingbirds bicker over territory in Penticton garden

The backyard of Jacqueline McDonald’s Penticton home is an oasis for numerous species of birds with its trees, wild plants and bird baths, and earlier this week a pair of hummingbirds put on an entertaining show.

The hummingbirds flitted energetically above McDonald’s fiery scarlet bee balm plants making a range of spirited vocalizations on an afternoon in early July.

“I think they are Anna’s Hummingbirds, they were definitely bickering over territory and they kept it up for quite awhile,” she said. “They were making those funny little sounds and dive bombing each other.” 

Hummingbird sounds are not as melodious as other species of birds because their voice boxes are small and unable to make complex vocalizations, according to Hummingbird Guide. 

These birds make a single note called a chip note, and sometimes the males will duel for territory with their beaks, making clicking sounds. 

Of course, the birds make humming sounds with their wings and tail feathers as they zip around with wings that flap an at incredible 60 times per second.

Some species have long tails that create a whirring sound while others have a shrill wing whistle.

Anna’s hummingbirds are famous for their “very loud chirp” made with a vibrating tail during courtship displays.

Jacqueline and her husband Randy McDonald identify and document birds that stop by throughout the year and have made a long list of species.

This spring, they had a pair of noisy nutcrackers take shelter in their maple tree. 

If you have neat videos to share of what’s happening in your neighbourhood, send them to news@infonews.ca