I can't say anything specific about contact among ruby-throats, but Toni 
and I once witnessed an impressive melee among Allen's Hummingbirds in 
S. California.  It was in a very big field of wildflowers, where at 
least 30-50 hummers were trying to drive each other away.  After we 
watched in amazement for a while, we noticed that it seemed to be 
snowing (in August).  Upon investigation, it turned out that each 
snowflake was a tiny feather!

	Bob Hartman
	Colesville, MD


Mary LaMarca wrote:

> Do these little fighters actually make body contact?