Hummingbirds, known for their iridescent plumage and rapid wingbeats, are among the smallest birds. They build remarkably small, intricate, and unique nests. These structures are carefully crafted to cradle and protect their tiny offspring, serving as a nursery.
Where Hummingbirds Nest
Female hummingbirds carefully select nesting sites, preferring locations that offer concealment and proximity to food sources. Most species choose deciduous trees or dense shrubs, often near water, which helps maintain a cooler environment.
Nests are typically built on thin, downward-sloping branches, about a foot from the main tree trunk or within a fork. This strategic placement helps camouflage the nest, making it resemble a natural tree knot or a clump of leaves. While many prefer natural settings, some hummingbirds, like the Ruby-throated, have adapted to urban environments, occasionally nesting on human-made structures such as wires or plant hangers. Nest height varies significantly, from 6 to 90 feet above ground, though an average height is 10 to 20 feet.
How Hummingbirds Build Their Nests
The female solely undertakes the meticulous construction of a hummingbird nest, typically taking up to seven days. She begins by creating a base layer using fine plant fibers, bark bits, and leaves. Spider silk is a crucial material, which the female incorporates by rolling it over the unfinished structure, binding the nest together and anchoring it to the chosen branch. This silk provides elasticity, allowing the nest to stretch and expand as the young grow.
The nest’s exterior is often shingled with green lichen, moss, or other natural debris, serving as camouflage to blend with its surroundings. The interior is lined with soft, downy materials like plant fluff, cotton fibers, or fine feathers, creating a cushioned space for the eggs and hatchlings. The finished nest is tiny, typically measuring about 1.5 inches in diameter, roughly the size of a golf ball or walnut shell. The female uses her body to shape and smooth the nest, pressing materials with her chest and using her feet to tamp down the floor, ensuring a compact and sturdy home.
Life Inside a Hummingbird Nest
Once the nest is complete, the female typically lays two tiny white eggs, usually spaced a day apart. These eggs are remarkably small, comparable in size to a coffee bean or a jelly bean. The female alone is responsible for incubation, which lasts approximately 15 to 18 days, though this period can extend in cooler weather. During incubation, she remains on the nest almost constantly, leaving briefly to forage for food, ensuring the eggs are kept at a consistent, warm temperature.
Upon hatching, young hummingbirds are altricial, meaning they are born blind, featherless, and entirely dependent on their mother for warmth and nourishment. They weigh less than a gram at birth, with short, stubby beaks that lengthen as they mature. The mother feeds her chicks a high-protein diet of insects and nectar, regurgitating the mixture into their mouths. As the nestlings grow, their feathers begin to appear, and they start exercising their wings around two to three weeks of age. They fledge, or leave the nest, about 18 to 28 days after hatching, though the mother may continue to feed them for a short period as they learn to forage independently.