Olive on swing with 4 white feathers

We believe the changeover started occurring in early summer, when Olive began molting and moved to the swing. She had never perched on the swing before, so it was clear that something had changed.

Over the next couple of months, she molted extensively, losing all of her feathers at one point or another, including the distinctive white head feathers.

📹 Video of Olive Spending Her Summer Molting on Her Swing

Olive chasing another hummingbird off her swing summer 2025

During this period, there was also significant territorial activity.

📹 Video of Olive Chasing Another Hummingbird from Her Swing - Slow Motion.

The bird we believed to be Olive moved back to the Ficus tree and continued molting. At the time, we did not think much of it—we assumed we were simply waiting for the feathers to grow back.

After a few more months, the bird was looking healthy again, but the white head feathers never returned.

This new bird also took over the feeder at the kitchen window.

Since 2012 there have been at least 5 differant birds using the patio. Keep in mind the other hummingbirds know the patio well. With Ficus trees offering protected nesting and a feeder by the kitchen window, it’s the most desired spot in the yard—every bird dreams of making it their own someday.

And not to sound cold or dismissive, but the transition from Olive to Jewel could not have happened any better. I often thought about how upset I would be when Olive eventually stopped showing up, and how empty the patio might feel—but that never happened.

Every year with her felt like a gift. I never expected it to last as long as it did. My gut tells me she was about five years old when she first joined us in January 2023. She had a wonderful life on the patio, raising 21 chicks in a safe, protected space. We were able to document her entire journey and share it with millions of people. We truly couldn’t have asked for more than that.