Hummingbirds often hover directly in front of a person’s face. This close encounter is a fascinating display of their unique adaptations and intelligence. These tiny birds are known for their aerial agility and rapid wingbeats. Understanding the reasons behind this behavior reveals much about their sensory world and foraging strategies.
Driven by Curiosity
Hummingbirds are intelligent and highly curious creatures. Their brains are proportionally larger than humans’, allowing for complex cognitive abilities. This enables constant exploration of their surroundings. Anything new or unusual, such as a standing human, can pique their interest.
Their investigative nature is supported by exceptional vision, more advanced than human eyesight. Hummingbirds possess a fourth type of color cone in their eyes, sensitive to ultraviolet light. This enables them to perceive a spectrum of colors invisible to humans. They use this enhanced visual capability to scrutinize their environment, including large, unfamiliar objects like people.
Mistaking You for a Nectar Source
One reason hummingbirds might hover close is a potential misidentification of a human as a source of nectar. Their primary diet consists of sugary liquid from flowers, and their vision is highly adapted to locating these floral rewards. Hummingbirds are particularly attracted to bright colors, especially red and orange, frequently displayed by nectar-rich flowers.
They can spot these vibrant cues from a considerable distance. Clothing or accessories with vivid hues might inadvertently signal a feeding opportunity. A pattern on a shirt or shiny jewelry could resemble visual markers that indicate a flower. This visual confusion leads them to investigate more closely, performing their characteristic hover to assess the potential food source.
Associating You with Feeders
Perhaps the most common explanation for a hummingbird’s close approach stems from their remarkable memory and learned associations with food. Hummingbirds exhibit astonishing spatial memory, allowing them to recall the precise locations of hundreds of flowers and feeders within their territory. This memory extends to remembering the timing of nectar replenishment and which sources offer the best reward.
These birds are quick learners and can associate specific individuals with a reliable food source. If a person regularly fills a feeder, hummingbirds can learn to recognize that individual as a provider. While there is no definitive scientific proof that they recognize individual human faces, their consistent behavior suggests they can identify a person who brings food, often flying directly to them as if expecting a refill.
What to Do When They Hover Close
When a hummingbird hovers near your face, remain calm and avoid sudden movements. These tiny birds are not aggressive or threatening; their close approach is driven by curiosity or the expectation of food.
To encourage continued visits, ensure feeders are consistently clean and filled with fresh sugar water. Planting native, nectar-rich flowers also provides a natural food source, making your yard a more attractive habitat. If you wish to discourage such close encounters, avoiding bright clothing or moving feeders away from common human activity areas can help.