# What the heck is this? A Hummingbird bum?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674 "2017-05-29T22:41:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674/1 "2017-05-29T22:41:50Z")
So what the heck is this little ball of feathers I found in my yard? There is no flesh on it at all, just a teeny, tiny ball of feathers that looks like a hummingbird bum. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/4199/34813875572_dd0e78c6fa_b.jpg "puff 1") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/56821557@N06/34813875572/in/dateposted-public/) [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/4249/34813878792_3c754c8a30_b.jpg "puff 2") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/56821557@N06/34813878792/in/dateposted-public/) [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/4220/34589983630_15a0725cb1_b.jpg "puff 3") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/56821557@N06/34589983630/in/dateposted-public/) 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674/2 "2017-05-29T23:29:02Z")
could it be an owl pellet? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674/3 "2017-05-29T23:35:31Z")
My guess would be a pellet from some bird of prey that had recently eaten some other bird. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674/4 "2017-05-29T23:43:06Z")
An owl pellet usually has bones and such in it, not just feathers. It’s hard to tell from the pics what the complete contents is, although the OP claims there is nothing but feathers. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674/5 "2017-05-30T00:11:39Z")
Possible nest lining that blew away? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674/6 "2017-05-30T00:23:56Z")
Yeah there is definitely nothing but feathers in it. They are attached all together in the middle but it seems like they’re just attached to each other. There’s nothing obvious holding it together. It’s clean, dry, no flesh, no blood. Nothing but little feathers. We had a wind storm here a few days ago so maybe it blew here from somewhere?? It’s cute but somehow gross at the same time. Also it’s soft not hard. When I squish it, my fingers on either side touch each other. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674/7 "2017-05-30T00:28:24Z")
It could also be the remnants of a conflict that occurred. After a cat or other predator catches a bird, you’ll sometimes find odd feather clusters. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674/8 "2017-05-30T00:35:19Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > It could also be the remnants of a conflict that occurred. After a cat or other predator catches a bird, you’ll sometimes find odd feather clusters. Yeah maybe it could be something like that. It could be from a larger bird but, because of the shape and size I assumed Hummingbird. Mind you, I can’t think of another kind of bird around here that would have tiny, green feathers. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-a-hummingbird-bum/787674/9 "2017-05-30T00:55:01Z")
Here’s what I found about [hummingbird nests](http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-hummingbirds/hummingbird-nest-facts/): > [@](#): > > Hummingbirds build velvety, compact cups with spongy floors and elastic sides that stretch as the young grow. They weave together twigs, plant fibers, and bits of leaves, and use spider silk as threads to bind their nests together and anchor them to the foundation. The pictures really don’t match. I was rooting for nest lining, but I don’t think so. Maybe a molt?