Hummingbirds are recognizable by their iridescent plumage and hovering flight. These tiny birds possess an extremely high metabolism, which necessitates a constant and specialized diet. While most people associate them exclusively with flower nectar, they also consume insects. Understanding this part of their diet is essential to grasping how these birds sustain their energetic lifestyle.
The Primary Energy Source
The incredible speed and agility of a hummingbird are powered by simple carbohydrates derived from nectar. Their metabolic rate, known as tachymetabolism, is one of the highest in the animal kingdom, requiring them to consume enormous amounts of fuel daily. A hummingbird must eat approximately 1.5 to 3 times its own body weight every day to sustain this energy output.
The sugar from natural flower nectar is rapidly digested and converted into energy for the constant flapping of their wings. This fuel is quickly depleted, meaning the birds must feed almost continuously throughout the day. When food is scarce or temperatures drop at night, hummingbirds can enter a deep, sleep-like state called torpor to reduce their metabolic needs and conserve energy.
Protein Requirements and Preferred Prey
Nectar provides immediate energy but lacks the necessary components for growth and maintenance, specifically protein, amino acids, and fats. Insects and spiders are the source of these vital nutrients, which are important for nestlings and female hummingbirds during egg production. Adult birds also rely on this protein for molting, the process of replacing worn feathers.
Hummingbirds are opportunistic insectivores, consuming a wide range of small invertebrates that can be easily swallowed whole. Common prey items include gnats, mosquitoes, fruit flies, midges, and small spiders. Hummingbirds consume aphids, especially when these small, soft-bodied insects are abundant. They also eat tiny pests like whiteflies and certain beetle larvae. A female feeding her young may catch hundreds of these small arthropods daily to ensure her nestlings receive the necessary elements for rapid growth.
Specialized Hunting Techniques
Hummingbirds employ specific behaviors to acquire their insect meals, often combining aerial maneuvers with meticulous searching. One common method is known as “hawking,” where the bird darts out from a perch to snatch a flying insect directly out of the air. This involves a quick sally and return to a stationary perch.
Another strategy is “gleaning,” which involves plucking stationary prey from foliage, branches, or spiderwebs. Hummingbirds will hover near a leaf or flower, quickly snatching a small spider or a slow-moving insect like an aphid with their bill. This technique requires the same precise, controlled flight they use when visiting a flower for nectar. They can also use their long, specialized tongues to access tiny insects hidden deep inside flowers.