Hummingbirds are some of the most beloved backyard birds. Their brilliant iridescent colors, remarkable speed, and impressive flying skills make them a joy to watch. But are they actually good for our gardens? Do they help or harm plants? Here is an in-depth look at the role of hummingbirds in the garden.
Do hummingbirds pollinate flowers?
Yes, hummingbirds are pollinators. Their main food source is nectar, which they get primarily from tubular flowers. As hummingbirds move from flower to flower feeding on nectar, pollen gets stuck to their feathers and heads. When they visit the next flower, some of that pollen rubs off onto that plant’s stigma. This fertilizes the plant so it can form seeds and fruit.
Research indicates that hummingbirds are effective pollinators for certain species of plants. They play a key role in pollinating flowers in the following plant families:
- Bromeliads
- Gesneriads
- Passion flowers
- Penstemons
- Sages
- Skullcap
- Lilies
- Fuchsias
- Columneas
- Salvias
Many of these plants have bright tubular flowers perfectly adapted to pollination by hummingbirds. The shape guides the hummingbird to the nectar while getting pollen on its head and body. Some species like certain sages even have lever-like stamens that physically attach pollen to the hummingbird’s head when it feeds.
What percent of pollination is done by hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds are responsible for the pollination of 5-10% of flowering plant species in North America. While bees account for the majority of pollination, hummingbirds also play an important supporting role.
Hummingbirds are the primary pollinators for between 500 and 1,000 species of North American plants. In comparison, bees pollinate around 90% of angiosperm plants.
While their overall percentage may be small, hummingbirds are the main or exclusive pollinator for some species. They have co-evolved with certain flowers in a mutually beneficial relationship. Some plants can set seed only when pollinated by hummingbirds.
Do hummingbirds help gardens by eating insects?
Hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from drinking nectar. But they also eat small insects for the protein. This helps make hummingbirds beneficial bug zappers.
Baby hummingbirds rely more heavily on insects to provide fat and protein for growth. But adult hummingbirds also hunt insects to meet their nutritional needs.
Hummingbirds have excellent vision and coordination that allows them to precision hunt. They can instantly change speed and direction in mid-air to catch even the smallest gnat or fruit fly.
Some of the bugs hummingbirds eat in gardens:
- Mosquitoes
- Fruit flies
- Gnats
- Aphids
- Spiders
- Caterpillars
- Ants
- Beetles
- Tree sap suckers
Many of these are considered garden pests. Having hummingbirds around helps naturally control populations of insects that damage plants.
Do hummingbirds damage flowers?
Hummingbirds have specially adapted beaks and tongues to access nectar from flowers. Their beaks are usually quite long and slim, allowing them to probe into tubes and blossoms without causing damage.
Here are some reasons why hummingbirds do not significantly damage flowers in gardens:
- Delicate feeding – Hummingbirds use capillary action with their forked tongue to lap up nectar. This is a non-invasive process.
- Prefer nectar – Hummingbirds are after the nectar only, not other flower parts.
- Move frequently – Hummingbirds feed briefly from each flower then quickly move to the next.
- Small body size – These are very tiny birds with a light body weight that doesn’t damage plants.
- Co-evolution – Flowers from certain plant families have evolved right alongside hummingbirds to be pollinated by them without harm.
The only exceptions may be extremely fragile flowers that can be torn by even the slightest contact. But overall, hummingbirds are delicate feeders that don’t inflict noticeable damage on flowers.
Do hummingbirds damage fruit crops?
Hummingbirds occasionally supplement their diet with tree sap, pollen, and small soft fruits. They have been observed eating from orchards and berry patches on occasion. But research indicates they do not cause significant damage to fruit crops.
A few reasons hummingbirds tend not to damage fruit crops:
- Tiny size – Hummingbirds only weigh 2 to 20 grams. Their small size prevents them from eating substantial quantities.
- Prefer nectar – Fruit is an incidental food source. Their main diet remains flower nectar.
- Energy needs – Hummingbirds have very high metabolisms and must consume significant calories from nectar each day just to survive.
- Chase away other pests – Hummingbirds may eat a few fruits but their presence deters more damaging birds like crows or grackles.
One study on brown thrashers found they eat 6 times more blueberries than hummingbirds. So hummingbirds are minor fruit nibblers compared to actual fruit-eating bird species.
Do hummingbirds compete with bees for nectar?
Hummingbirds and bees both frequent flowers for nectar. But they have developed different foraging strategies that allow them to peacefully co-exist.
Differences that help hummingbirds and bees minimize competition:
- Flower preferences – Bees prefer wide open shallow flowers whereas hummingbirds evolved for slender tubed flowers.
- Feeding times – Hummingbirds are most active in the morning and evening. Bees tend to forage during the middle of the day.
- Vision – Hummingbirds see the color red well, unlike bees. Red flowers attract hummingbirds but not bees.
- Flower handling – Hummingbirds can hover while bees must land on flowers, influencing flower shape preferences.
- Geography – In cooler climates, bees are less active during times when hummingbirds are present.
Research on Mimulus flowers found bumblebees and hummingbirds primarily visited different flower types, demonstrating excellent resource partitioning. This minimizes competition between these important pollinators.
Do hummingbirds damage plant leaves?
Hummingbirds occasionally bite small holes in leaves to get minerals from the plant sap. But this type of damage is quite minor and rare. Here are some reasons leaf damage from hummingbirds is not a concern:
- Tiny holes – The holes poked are only 1-2 mm across and do not harm the overall health of the plant.
- Infrequent – Leaf nibbling is uncommon behavior for hummingbirds. They mainly eat nectar and insects.
- Early season – Leaf biting is mostly seen in early spring before flowers bloom, becoming rare once nectar is abundant.
- Benefits outweigh damage – Any minor leaf damage is more than offset by their extensive pollination services.
Spider mites, Japanese beetles, slugs, and other pests cause significantly more plant damage than the occasional tiny holes poked by hummingbirds.
Do hummingbirds disturb bees?
Hummingbirds and bees forage together quite peacefully in the garden. Here are some reasons why hummingbirds do not excessively disturb hard-working bees:
- Different schedules – Hummingbirds are most active in mornings and evenings. Bees tend to forage midday.
- Varied flower preferences – Each prefers flower shapes adapted to their anatomy and feeding style.
- Separate feeding zones – Hummingbirds access nectar from the air, while bees land on flowers to feed.
- Nectar regeneration – Nectar re-accumulates quickly so there is less competition for the same flower.
- Plentiful food – Gardens with adequate flowers support both hummingbird and bee populations.
Studies show bumblebees quickly learn to adjust their foraging behavior when hummingbirds are present, minimizing interaction. The two co-exist comfortably in most garden environments.
Do hummingbirds damage other birds?
Hummingbirds are solitary, territorial birds. Males will aggressively chase each other away from prime feeding areas. But despite their feisty nature, hummingbirds rarely inflict damage on other bird species.
Here are some reasons hummingbird aggression causes minimal harm to other birds:
- Small size – Weighing just 2-6 grams, hummingbirds cannot physically hurt larger bird species.
- Non-predatory – Hummingbirds do not hunt for prey, only drinking nectar and eating insects.
- Lack of weapons – Hummingbirds do not have talons, claws, or a sharp beak to injure other birds.
- Chase displays only – Most aggression is limited to dive bombing intruders. Physical contact is rare.
- Nectar abundance – Ample flower resources means less conflict over prime nectar sources.
While fierce protectors of their territories, hummingbirds do not seriously threaten the safety or lives of other birds frequenting backyard feeders and gardens.
Do hummingbirds spread disease?
Hummingbirds do not pose any significant disease risk to humans, plants, or other wildlife. Here are some reasons hummingbirds are not concerning disease vectors:
- Seldom sick – Hummingbirds have extremely high metabolisms. Few diseases can overwhelm their immune systems.
- No shared diseases – There are no diseases known to be transmitted between hummingbirds and humans.
- Self-quarantine – Sick hummingbirds isolate themselves and are not seen actively feeding.
- Nectar is antibiotic – Nectar contains compounds that fight microbial growth. This inhibits disease transmission via flowers.
- Specialized diet – Their liquid diet and insect eating decreases contacts that spread diseases.
Diseases sometimes reported in hummingbirds include salmonella, pox viruses, and avian malaria. But these are quite rare and unlikely to be spread. Proper nectar and feeder hygiene precautions should always be followed.
Do hummingbirds damage or eat tree leaves?
Hummingbirds occasionally supplement their nectar diet by biting tiny holes in tree leaves to access sap. But the damage they inflict is negligible and trees are not a primary food source. Here is some context on hummingbird tree leaf damage:
- Tiny holes – The holes poked are only 1-2 mm wide, removing a barely noticeable amount of leaf material.
- Prefer nectar – Tree sap comprises less than 1% of hummingbird diet. Nectar remains the dominant food source.
- Rarely feed from trees – One study found just 5% of foraging time was spent at leaves. Most feeding is at flowers.
- New leaves preferred – Hummingbirds target new leaves over mature ones, minimizing impact on leaf function.
- Early season behavior – Hummingbirds tap tree sap primarily in early spring before flowers bloom to access glucose.
While not ideal for trees, the tiny leaf holes poked by hummingbirds do not stress or kill trees. The trees can easily tolerate this occasional damage especially since it is restricted to early season.
Do hummingbirds help gardens by spreading pollen?
In addition to fertilizing flowers via pollination, hummingbirds also help gardens by passively spreading pollen stuck to their bodies from one plant to another. Here are some of the ways this benefits gardens:
- Enhanced productivity – More pollen spread leads to better fruit and seed production for plants.
- Increased genetic diversity – Hummingbirds distribute pollen across wider areas, improving the gene pool.
- Support wildflower growth – Passive pollen transfer helps native wildflowers reproduce and establish.
- Pollination insurance – Hummingbirds can deposit pollen if primary pollinators are not present.
- Quick pollen dispersal – The speed of hummingbird movement rapidly spreads pollen over distance.
Research on penstemon flowers found hummingbirds increased overall pollen movement by over 40% compared to wind alone. This significantly boosted plant reproductive success demonstrating the value of hummingbird pollen transfer.
Do hummingbirds disrupt native ecosystems?
Hummingbirds are native species that have co-evolved for centuries alongside the local plants and ecosystems they inhabit. Therefore, hummingbirds do not negatively disrupt or alter native plant communities when they feed or nest.
Attributes that help hummingbirds integrate into native habitats without causing damage:
- Naturally present – Hummingbirds originated and adapted alongside native plant communities.
- Co-dependent evolution – Many native plants rely exclusively on hummingbirds for pollination.
- Preferred native plants – Hummingbirds favor tubed native flowers adapted to their feeding style.
- Non-invasive nesting – Hummingbirds nest on small branches that do not stress or kill trees.
- Limited overlap – Hummingbird populations are smaller further north where bees dominate pollination.
Providing nectar plants and nest sites encourages native hummingbirds without increasing populations beyond sustainable levels for local ecosystems.
Summary – Are hummingbirds beneficial overall?
The many positive contributions of hummingbirds to pollination, insect control, and ecosystems greatly outweigh any minor drawbacks these beloved birds may have in gardens. Here are some key benefits hummingbirds provide:
- Pollinate tubular flowers adapted to their unique style of feeding
- Increase pollination efficiency and fruit set by depositing targeted pollen as they feed
- Passively transfer pollen between flowers and gardens as they fly about, further increasing pollination
- Control populations of small insects and pests like gnats, aphids, and spiders
- Play a key coevolved role in sustaining native plant communities
- Provide garden enjoyment with their dazzling colors and energetic flight
The minor downsides of minor leaf damage, territorial behavior, and nectar consumption are greatly overshadowed by the positive impacts of hummingbirds. These vanishing gems of nature provide valuable connections to native ecosystems that make preserving them a priority.
Welcome hummingbirds into your garden environment by providing nectar flowers and feeders, eliminating pesticides, and including nesting sites like small shrubs and trees. Creating a habitat filled with their favorite flowers brings charming and useful hummingbirds to your garden.
References
Here are some references used in researching this article:
- Birdwatchers Digest – Hummingbirds: Facts, Habits, and Habitat
- The Spruce – How Hummingbirds Interact With Flowers As Pollinators
- US Forest Service – Hummingbird Biology, Range, Description, Foraging Ecology
- Audubon – How Do Hummingbirds and Bees Coexist in Your Backyard?
- American Bird Conservancy – Hummingbirds
- The Wilson Journal of Ornithology – Resource partitioning in two territorial hummingbird species
- University of Wisconsin Madison: Do hummingbirds compete with bees for nectar?