Hummingbirds, with their iridescent plumage and astonishing aerial agility, are among the most captivating birds. Their ability to hover and dart through the air often sparks curiosity about their nesting habits, particularly how they care for their incredibly small eggs.
The Hummingbird’s Incubation Process
The female hummingbird undertakes the entire process of nest building, egg-laying, and incubation alone. The male plays no part in raising the young after mating.
She constructs a minuscule, cup-shaped nest, often no larger than a golf ball, using plant fibers, downy materials, moss, and lichen. It is bound with stretchy spider silk, allowing the nest to expand as the chicks grow. The exterior is camouflaged with bits of lichen, blending seamlessly with its surroundings and making it difficult for predators to spot.
The female typically lays two tiny, white eggs, usually one to two days apart. These eggs are incredibly small, often compared to the size of a pea, and weigh less than a gram. To ensure both eggs hatch at roughly the same time, the mother hummingbird begins full incubation only after the second egg is laid.
During the incubation period, which typically lasts between 11 and 21 days, the female sits on her eggs almost continuously. Her presence provides the consistent warmth, around 96-98 degrees Fahrenheit, necessary for embryonic development. She takes only very brief breaks to quickly feed herself before returning to the nest to maintain the critical temperature.
From Egg to Fledgling
Upon hatching, hummingbird chicks are incredibly small, weighing as little as 0.62 grams. They are born in an altricial state, meaning they are helpless, blind, and largely featherless. This vulnerable stage necessitates constant care from their mother.
The mother hummingbird dedicates herself to feeding her rapidly growing offspring. She brings them a diet of regurgitated nectar mixed with small insects and spiders, which provides essential protein for their development. This feeding occurs frequently, sometimes every 15 to 20 minutes throughout the day.
As the chicks grow, their beaks, initially short and stubby, lengthen considerably. Their bodies quickly gain mass. The mother continues to brood them, sitting on the nest to provide warmth, until they develop enough feathers to regulate their own body temperature, typically around 10 days after hatching.
The nest, with its elastic construction, stretches to accommodate the growing chicks, though it becomes increasingly crowded. Within approximately 18 to 28 days of hatching, the young hummingbirds are ready to fledge, leaving the nest for their first flights. Even after fledging, the mother may continue to feed them for several days to a week, supporting them as they learn to forage independently.