Hummingbirds, among the smallest birds globally, captivate observers with their shimmering plumage and remarkable aerial agility. These tiny creatures exhibit a unique ability to hover in mid-air, a feat made possible by their incredibly rapid wing beats. Their diet primarily consists of nectar, which they extract from flowers using specialized bills, though they also consume small insects.
The Usual Number of Eggs
Hummingbirds typically lay two eggs per clutch. This number is consistent across most species. The female hummingbird usually lays these eggs one to two days apart, but she delays full incubation until both eggs are present, ensuring they hatch around the same time.
This consistent clutch size reflects an evolutionary adaptation, optimizing the female’s ability to provision and protect her offspring. Laying more than two eggs would likely exceed the female’s capacity to adequately feed and care for the young, while laying just one would not maximize her reproductive potential. Depending on the species and climate, a female hummingbird may have one to three broods each year.
Building Nests and Egg Appearance
The female hummingbird constructs a tiny, intricate nest, often located on thin branches, at varying heights. Meticulously woven from soft plant fibers like thistle down, dandelion, or cotton, spider silk is a binding material, providing elasticity and strength, allowing the nest to expand as the nestlings grow. To camouflage the nest, the female often adorns its exterior with bits of lichen and moss, making it difficult to spot.
Hummingbird eggs are very small, often compared in size to a coffee bean or a small jelly bean, weighing less than a gram. They are typically elliptical or ovoid in shape and are dull white or creamy white in color. This plain coloration is believed to help keep the developing embryos cool by reflecting sunlight and may also aid in camouflage within the camouflaged nest. Despite their small size, a hummingbird egg can represent a significant proportion of the female’s body weight.
The Journey to Fledging
After the eggs are laid, the female hummingbird is solely responsible for their incubation, which typically lasts 14 to 21 days. She maintains a consistent temperature for the eggs, only leaving the nest for brief periods to feed. Once hatched, the chicks are altricial, meaning they are born blind, featherless, and completely dependent on their mother. They are very tiny, with undeveloped beaks.
The female hummingbird feeds her young a high-protein diet of insects and spiders, along with nectar, regurgitating the food into their mouths. This intensive feeding continues as the chicks grow rapidly, doubling their mass within a few days. Around two to three weeks after hatching, the young hummingbirds begin to develop their full set of feathers and start exercising their wings. They fledge, or leave the nest, typically between 18 to 25 days after hatching, though the mother continues to feed and guide them for about another week as they learn to forage independently.