Dueling hummingbirds use spear-like beaks and blind fast flight.

Using their spear-like bills and blindingly fast flight, dueling hummingbirds chase each other through the air, aggressively stabbing and plucking feathers. The bills of some species are specialized for fighting, with spiny tips, hooks, or even saw-like serrations. Some hummingbirds employ these aerial fencing techniques to chase off larger birds like hawks and owls. But the most extreme fights are between male hummingbirds competing for flowers and females. Fortunately, these duels are rarely deadly. After 15 to 20 seconds, one bird will typically surrender— flying off to seek its breakfast elsewhere.