sleepy fluffy hummingbird (1 Viewer)

JKovacs · May 21, 2013

I have had a fluffy lil male humming bird sleeping on my porch for the last two days, i have feeders and string for perching. i was able to touch him lightly but eventually got spooked and he flew away unlike all the humming birds flying around him he stayed fluffy. I am looking for any info i can get on this.
i was thinking maybe he was hatched close to my house last year but dont know why he doesnt sleep in the bushes like all the other birds that are around. during dusk i will get around ten birds all buzzing around me so i dont see why he is the only one doing this now.

PumaMan · May 21, 2013

Don't sick birds sometimes sit with their feathers fluffed out? (I hope this isn't the case.)

Signs of Illness: Fluffed Feathers

There are many indications that a bird may be ill. One of the most common and easy to recognize symptoms is puffiness. A sick bird will often sit with fluffed feathers to stay warm. When this happens, they lose that sleek trim appearance. Sometimes a fluffed bird will look ragged or fat. On occasion, perfectly healthy birds fluff up for short periods. If you frequently see them in this condition, however, there may be a problem. Be aware that even a sick bird will tighten his feathers if he perceives danger. So don't be surprised or fooled by a fluffed bird who suddenly pulls in and tightens his feathers when you approach. This is a defense mechanism so that he doesn't look as vulnerable to prey.

pusser_uk · May 22, 2013

There is a Brown Headed Cow bird exhibiting the same behaiviour at my feeding station. It just sits there, puffed up but is also losing feathers from its head. Again, it flies off if I approach but comes back as soon as I have gone. I don't expect it to recover from whatever is wrong with it.

PumaMan · May 22, 2013

I stock 7 bird feeders, in addition to the 4 hummingbird feeders, so there are a LOT of birds hanging around. Sometimes I see one sitting, fluffed up, and it doesn't fly off till I get within inches of it. I know it is probably sick or infested with parasites. It saddens me to see how hard their lives are, even with a constant supplemental food supply, and there is nothing I can do to help. Nature is beautiful but she is also a cruel mistress.

sleepy fluffy hummingbird (1 Viewer)

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