Few of us will ever see a hummingbird nest, despite the fact that we’ve seen one or even fed them in our yard. These tiny nests may appear to be strange and well hidden. As a result, many hummingbird aficionados are left curious about the nests’ appearance, as well as how these tiny birds make them and rear their young. We’ll explore how and where these nests are created, as well as other information about hummingbird nests, in this article.
HUMMINGBIRD NEST BUILDING
Let’s explore the steps involved in constructing a nest, starting with the site.
CHOOSING A NEST LOCATION
The female hummingbird’s most important criterion when selecting a nest site is protecting the eggs. As a result, she’ll choose a location where she expects predators to have trouble getting to.
The nest must be supported by a stable foundation. Because strong winds and rain might pose a danger, the nest is positioned in a spot where it will stay stable no matter the weather. Hummingbirds often select a branch’s connection point or “Y crossing” to help with stability. Landing on the site multiple times is thought to be used to evaluate a location’s sturdiness.
Each species has a preferences for the type of tree, shrub, or plant it prefers to nest on as well as how high it nests. Further information on common species will be provided later.
NEST CONSTRUCTION
Hummingbirds make a soft, velvety yet solid cup out of downy plant fibers, while other birds build their nests on twigs, grasses, and mud. They begin by building a foundation on the branch, frequently utilizing scaffolding or anchor points formed from a Y-shaped branch or other tiny outcropping.
They start constructing the walls of the nest by standing in the middle and surrounding their body with soft plant fibers in a circle once the platform is finished. Their long, slender beak makes an excellent knitting needle. The birds will utilize their bodies to push against the sides of the nest, forming a cup shape as its heights increase. They’ll compact the fibers together to create a thicker, wool-like substance with their feet.
The cup’s exterior is then “decorated.” Hummingbirds like to put pieces of moss, lichen, or leaves around the outside of their nest cup for camouflage or maybe for extra stability.
FACTS ABOUT HUMMINGBIRD NESTS
Let’s dive into some facts and common questions about hummingbird nests.
1. DOES THE MALE OR FEMALE BUILD THE NEST?
Females are the egg and baby nurturers, and they do it all by themselves. Hummingbirds are mothers for the rest of their lives!
2. WHICH PLANT FIBERS ARE USED TO CREATE THE NEST?
Flowers, seed pods, flower buds, and seed heads of many plants produce soft, downy fibers. Pussy willow, cattails, dandelion, cottonwood trees, and poplar trees are some of the most well-known and recognizable examples.
3. HOW HIGH UP DO HUMMINGBIRDS BUILD THEIR NESTS?
This is true for each species, and it may vary considerably. Some may be just a couple of feet above the ground, while others may be almost 20 feet. Below, we go over the specifics for each species in further depth.
4. HOW BIG IS A HUMMINGBIRD NEST?
The nest of an American hummingbird is typically 1.5 to 2 inches broad and 1 inch deep, depending on the size of the hummingbird species. A golf ball is roughly the size of a thought.
5. HOW MANY EGGS CAN A HUMMINGBIRD NEST HOLD?
Hummingbirds lay between one and three eggs at a time, with two being the most common. Because of the soft downy interior, several nests expand and broaden somewhat as the youngsters grow bigger, with a touch of give to them.
6. HOW BIG ARE HUMMINGBIRD EGGS?
Hummingbird eggs are incredibly tiny. The size of a navy bean is frequently used to compare them. Incubation time for most eggs is between 2 and 3 weeks.
7. WHEN DO HUMMINGBIRDS BUILD THEIR NESTS?
In a nutshell, shortly after returning from the spring migration. This may begin as early spring or as late spring/early summer, depending on the species and how far they must travel to reach their breeding grounds. The young hummingbirds can reach their full size by late summer, so the adults will go south in the autumn with the rest of their species.
8. DO HUMMINGBIRDS REUSE OLD NESTS?
Many people do, to be sure. Certain species, such as Costa’s and Calliope, are known to do this more often. Old nests may be repaired, expanded on top of, or dismantled entirely and the materials reused for a fresh nest.
9. DO HUMMINGBIRD NESTS HAVE PREDATORS?
Even though hummingbird eggs are tiny, they are eaten by snakes, other birds, small mammals, and even ants. Hungry predators even threaten the young hummingbirds that have not yet fled the nest.
10. HOW CAN I ENCOURAGE HUMMINGBIRDS TO NEST IN MY YARD?
Hummingbird trees and shrubs, as well as nectar feeders and/or nectar producing plants, should be available.
HUMMINGBIRD NEST FACTS – 12 COMMON SPECIES
Hummingbird nests have a lot in common, yet no two species do things the same way. The environmental circumstances in various places across the nation frequently cause this. Here are 12 of the most frequent North American hummingbird species to consider.
1. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 2 inches across, 1 inch deep
Eggs per Clutch: 1-3
Number of Clutches per Year: 1-2
Ruby-throated hummingbirds use spider silk and/or pine resin to construct their nests, which are generally made of thistle or dandelion fibers. Lichen and moss cover the outside of the nest. It takes around 6 to 10 days for a nest to develop. Mainly deciduous trees with downward sloping, slender branches are used, although pine is sometimes employed as well. It ranges from 10 to 40 feet in height. Chains or extension cords, such as outdoor string lights, may be used to balance their nests.
2. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 2 inches across, 1 inch deep
Eggs per Clutch: 2-3
Number of Clutches per Year: 1
Rufous hummingbirds build their nests of lichen, bark shreds, and moss on the outside, with soft plant down and spider silk. Any female, not just the original builder, may reuse Rufous nests the following year. Evergreen and deciduous trees, such as maple, birch, cedar, and pine, build nests of all types. Nests are roughly 10 to 30 feet tall, and they may be found within yards of each other.
3. ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 1.5 inches across, 1 inch tall
Eggs per Clutch: 2
Number of Clutches per Year: 2-3
Hummingbirds search for horizontal branches on trees or shrubs that are 6-20 feet from the ground, according to Anna. Oak, eucalyptus, sycamore, robust shrubs, and occasionally vines are among the common nesting locations. They may try to construct near a nectar source if possible. The soft cup is made of cattail, willow, thistle, or even little feathers bound together with spider silk or insect cocoons and lichen and moss. On the exterior of the nest, little paint chips are sometimes seen. It takes roughly a week for the nest to complete. They may only construct the nest’s foundation before placing the eggs, and then continue to develop it while caring for the eggs.
4. BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size:
Eggs per Clutch: 2
Number of Clutches per Year: 1-3
While studies aren’t certain if higher nests exist but are just more difficult to find, observed nests have been between 6 and 12 feet off the ground. Nesting is common on tiny, horizontal dead branches that protrude from the canopy. The nest’s walls are thicker in colder regions and thinner in warmer regions, and soft plant fiber, spider silk, and cocoon fiber are employed. The nest may expand to become a shallower, wider cup as the infants grow bigger.
5. ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 1.25 interior diameter
Number of Clutches per Year: 1-3
Allen’s prefer to build near shaded streams and choose a nest site that is at least 2 feet above the ground. Douglas firs, blackberry bushes, cypress trees, and eucalyptus trees are some of the most popular nest sites. The construction of a nest takes between 7 and 13 days for an Allen’s female. Fibers from willows and sunflowers are often used to soften plant material. When constructing their new nest, the Allens hummingbird will frequently steal material from existing nests or construct one on top of an existing one.
6. BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 2 inches wide, 0.8 inch inner diameter that can stretch as babies grow
Eggs per Clutch: 2
The broad-tailed hummingbird selects a more protected location for its nest that gets some insulation from the cold evenings, since they prefer to reside in highlands. An aspen, willow, or alder thicket about 1-5 feet off the ground is common. The nests are constructed beneath an overhead limb, which will help keep them warm. The nest cup is made up of spiderswebs and gossamer (fine silk material utilized in web-building), with lichen, moss, and bark on the outside. Throughout incubation, the female may continue to build the nest, which takes around 4-5 days. Hummingbird nests are occasionally reused or built upon by broad-tailed hummingbirds.
7. COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 1.25 inches wide, 1 inch deep
Number of Clutches per Year: 1-1
The Costa’s are generally known as the “American desert hummingbird.” The southernmost tip of the island is located southwest. They create their nests without much cover, about 3-7 feet above the ground, in ironwood, acacia, palo verde, cholla and shrubs. Costa’s prefer downy feathers from sunflowers, bark strips, tiny leaves, and lichen as nest materials. Costa nests are a little more flimsy than those of other hummingbirds, owing to the use of spiderweb to hold them together. They may use an existing nest as a base.
8. BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 1 inch tall, 0.75 inch interior diameter
Eggs per Clutch: 2-3
Hummingbirds’ nests are built low to the ground, roughly 3-5 feet from the branch of a tree or shrub. They prefer to territory near outcrops or streams with a lot of rock. In comparison to other species’ more neatly built nests, their nests may appear to be a bit more like a clump of greenery. Grasses, leaves, plant down, bark strips, and spiderwebs are among the nest materials. On clotheslines, their nests have even been discovered!
9. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 1.5 – 1.8 inches wide, about 1 inch high
Number of Clutches per Year: 1-2
The calliope hummingbird constructs their nest between 6 and 39 feet off the ground, depending on the location. The nest is constructed beneath an overhanging limb that may help to shelter the eggs from cold and rain, and evergreen trees such as Douglas fir, western red cedar, and lodgepole pine are employed. The calliope will often construct the nest by mimicking a pinecone in the shape of a notch in order to conceal it. The cup is made of downy plant fibers with lichen, moss, and bark particles on the outside. Older nests from previous seasons may be repurposed or added to.
10. RIVOLI’S HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 2.2 inches across, 1.7 inches deep
Eggs per Clutch: 2
Rivoli chooses a horizontal branch overhanging a stream, about 20 feet or higher from the ground, as a nest site. The nests may be located at a range of heights, even as high as 89 feet, the highest of all North American hummingbirds. The nest is typically found towards the end of the limb, rather than at the tree’s trunk. The nest is made from leaves, feathers, and moss, with spiderweb used to seal the exterior. Lichen is attached to the outside.
11. LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 1.8 inches across, 2.2 inches tall
Eggs per Clutch: 2
Number of Clutches per Year: 1-2
Lucifer females build their nests on ocotillo, cholla, and lechuguilla plants growing along steep rocky terrain in the United States. They create a hummingbird desert in the area. Plant fibers like oak catkins, dried grass, flower down, and lichen are used to make nests. Other Lucifer nests may occasionally be stolen from, and old years’ nests might be used to build new ones.
12. BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD
Nest Size: 1.5 inches wide, 1.6 inches tall
Around 3 to 23 feet above the ground, these gulf-coast hummers create their nests in the forks of small trees and shrubs. Soft plant materials are utilized for the inner cup, and spiderweb is strung across the outside of the vessel to connect with other hummingbirds.