Hummingbirds often appear to subsist solely on flower nectar. While this is partly true, it overlooks a crucial aspect of their diet. A common question is whether these tiny birds also consume bees. Understanding their full diet reveals a complex feeding strategy adapted to their extraordinary energy demands.
The Nectar-Fueled Lifestyle
Hummingbirds maintain an exceptionally high metabolism, requiring a constant energy supply. Nectar, a sugar-rich liquid from flowers, serves as their primary fuel. They often drink 80% to 150% of their body weight in nectar daily, sometimes up to three times that during peak activity. This high intake necessitates frequent feeding, with a single bird visiting hundreds to thousands of flowers each day.
Their feeding mechanism is highly specialized. A hummingbird’s long, forked tongue rapidly laps up nectar. The tongue flicks in and out of the bill 12 to 20 times per second, pumping nectar into their mouths rather than simply sucking it. This efficient process ensures they can quickly refuel to support their hovering and flight patterns.
Beyond Nectar: The Crucial Role of Insects
While nectar provides immediate energy for their active lifestyle, it lacks many essential nutrients. Hummingbirds require protein, amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals for growth, muscle development, and overall health. Insects and small arthropods fulfill these nutritional requirements, making them an indispensable part of their diet. Insects and spiders can constitute a significant portion, potentially up to 80%, of their diet.
Hummingbirds hunt a variety of small invertebrates, including gnats, mosquitoes, fruit flies, aphids, small beetles, mites, and spiders. They employ several hunting techniques, such as “hawking,” catching insects in mid-air. They also “glean” insects and spiders from leaves, bark, and spiderwebs. Some species utilize sap wells, consuming both sap and the insects attracted to them.
Addressing the Bee Question: Do Hummingbirds Eat Bees?
Hummingbirds generally do not target bees as a primary food source. Bees are often too large and possess a sting that could be dangerous to a hummingbird. While hummingbirds eat insects, they prefer smaller, softer-bodied prey that can be easily swallowed whole, as their bills are not designed for dismembering larger insects.
Observations at feeders often show hummingbirds avoiding or chasing away bees and wasps, indicating competition for nectar rather than predation. However, a hummingbird might opportunistically consume a very small or weak bee, or one already trapped in a spiderweb. Tiny parasitic wasps, comparable in size to fruit flies, may also be consumed. While their diet is diverse and includes many insects, bees are not a regular or preferred component due to their defensive capabilities and size.