A hummingbird’s life requires a constant, high-octane fuel supply to power its rapid metabolism and unique hovering flight. Nectar from flowers provides the immediate energy and carbohydrates necessary to sustain their daily activity. However, relying solely on this sugary liquid is insufficient, as nectar lacks the complex nutrients required for a complete diet. To thrive, reproduce, and maintain its body structure, a hummingbird must actively seek out other food sources to supplement its carbohydrate intake.
The Critical Role of Arthropods in the Diet
Arthropods, including tiny insects and spiders, form the foundational component of a hummingbird’s diet beyond nectar. While nectar delivers immediate energy for flight, these invertebrates supply the protein, fats, amino acids, and minerals required for biological functions. This protein is essential for building new muscle tissue, replacing worn-out feathers during molting, and maintaining internal organs.
The nutritional demands are especially high for breeding females and nestlings. A female must consume a significantly greater volume of arthropods to produce eggs and then to feed her young, who require a diet almost entirely composed of protein for rapid growth. Common prey items are minuscule, often consisting of gnats, aphids, fruit flies, and small spiders, which are easily captured and swallowed whole.
The fats found in these small creatures are also vital, particularly for hummingbirds preparing for long-distance migration. Converting this dietary fat into stored energy reserves is a necessary step to fuel their migratory flights. Therefore, the consumption of arthropods is a mandatory part of the feeding routine that supports the bird’s entire life cycle.
Specialized Hunting and Foraging Methods
To acquire this essential protein, hummingbirds employ a variety of hunting techniques. One primary method is hawking, where the bird launches itself from a perch to snatch a flying insect directly out of the air. This aerial maneuver requires rapid acceleration and precise mid-air navigation, often described as flycatching.
Another technique, known as gleaning, involves plucking stationary invertebrates from surfaces like leaves, bark, or flowers. A hummingbird may hover briefly in front of a leaf or probe a crevice with its long bill to capture a small, resting spider or insect larva. This method allows them to capitalize on prey that is not in flight, expanding their foraging opportunities within dense foliage.
Hummingbirds also engage in opportunistic raiding by targeting spider webs. They will often steal small insects already trapped in the sticky silk or even consume the spider itself, viewing the web as a convenient source of concentrated protein.
Opportunistic Sweeteners and Minerals
Beyond the primary food groups of nectar and arthropods, hummingbirds occasionally consume other substances that offer supplemental nutrition. One such item is tree sap, which they access almost exclusively through small holes drilled into tree bark by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. This sap provides an alternative source of sugar and often contains trace amounts of amino acids, making it a valuable food source, particularly in early spring before many flowers bloom.
While foraging for nectar, hummingbirds ingest pollen that sticks to their bills and tongues. Pollen contains minor amounts of protein and fat, although it is not a highly digestible food source. Hummingbirds also require minerals like sodium and other trace elements, which they typically obtain from their insect diet. They have been observed investigating mineral-rich sources, such as licking the surface of dried mud or sand to acquire necessary salts.