We've all seen Crows chase and harass Bald Eagles and various Hawks. (Note that the Crows behave cooperatively during such harassments. If the raptors behaved similarly, there would be fewer Crows around.)

So it's been a form of justice watching Blackbirds aggressively chase the Crows. Not long ago at Reifel, I watched a Crow flying along the outer dyke and 100 meters ahead of it a Red-winged BB took to the air. Immediately the Crow did a 90 degree turn, but it mattered not as the RWBB went after the Crow. I even saw (and photographed) a RWBB take on a Sandhill Crane there, nipping at its rear end to encourage it to leave his area. And at Iona I've seen both Yellow-headed and RWBB chase Crows cooperatively.

And I've seen the odd Sparrow and Swallow go after the Blackbirds.

Recently I saw the ultimate. I found an area in which many Hummingbirds live. I've never seen any nests, but I would guess that in an area of about 30 meters square, there are a dozen or so Rufous.

While I was there watching, a group of Chickadees came into the area and started doing their thing in the trees and shrubs. Immediately a number of Hummingbirds appeared (they are hard to see in the trees) and started to chase the Chickadees. At last a bird they could intimidate.

_________________
MikeDB
http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdbug3/

Haha, what a great story! That is too funny!

_________________
"Japanese scientists from Keio University have found that pigeons have self-cognitive abilities higher than 3-year-old humans. " (link)

I'm pretty sure rufous hummers have Napoleon complex. They quite regularly chase our local Merlin around the yard! Good things come in small packages.

Cheers

Hummingbirds are such cocky little guys I've seen them chase Robins.

_________________
I have 213 birds on my life list. Latest lifer for me is the Pectoral Sandpiper.

Great story! But don't dismiss hummers as mere lightweights I've seen them take on Red Tailed Hawks.