This picture was taken at Utuado, Puerto Rico, couple weeks ago. I posted a similar image on the main forum, but I realize now that this picture really belongs here. Not the best IQ, light,.... but I was fun to watch this "crazy" hummingbird hovering around the kestrel, it did not attack it, just hovered around it and perched on the same tree relative close to it. Once the Kestrel flew away the hummingbird performed the same stunt again and perched again close to the "Killer"... no clue what was going on.
Hi Raul- This is quite a common theme- small bird mobs and drives away larger, predatory bird. We have had several threads on this in the past. As you know hummingbirds are very aggressive and territorial at the best of times but presented with a real threat like this kestrel, they instinctively mob the predator. The kestrel is a bird-killer so would automatically illicit a response from the hummer. The obvious question is- why doesn't the kestrel just go after the tasty hummer? The answer is unclear but it seems that in contexts where the predator is not hunting- just loafing or flying by- they do not present a threat, and therefore the potential prey seems immune to attack and will mob if they are inclined to do so.