Hummingbirds are small, colorful birds found throughout North and South America. With their fast wing beats and ability to hover in mid-air, they are specialized nectar feeders that get most of their energy from drinking flower nectar. But does their diet consist only of nectar, or are hummingbirds omnivores that eat other foods as well?
Quick answer: Yes, hummingbirds are omnivores
While nectar is their main food source, hummingbirds also consume small insects and spiders to obtain proteins, vitamins and minerals not found in nectar. This makes them omnivores rather than pure nectarivores. Baby hummingbirds are fed insects by their mothers. So while nectar may comprise the majority of their calories, hummingbirds do supplement their diet with small invertebrates. This helps meet their nutritional needs.
Nectar as their primary food source
Hummingbirds have evolved specialized adaptations for feeding on the nectar of flowers. Their long slender beaks and tongues are perfectly suited for extracting nectar. Their wings beat up to 70 times per second, allowing them to hover in place while lapping up nectar. And they have excellent color vision to help spot flowers.
Nectar provides hummingbirds with their main source of energy in the form of sugars. Hummingbirds have high metabolism and rapid breathing rate, so they need a lot of calories. The sugary nectar from flowers like honeysuckles, columbines, trumpet vines and others provide an efficient way for hummingbirds to get the burst of energy they require. Hummingbird feeding is almost incessant during daylight hours because they need to consume 50% of their body weight in nectar each day.
But there are some downsides of an all-nectar diet. Nectar does not contain many essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids that hummingbirds need to survive. Thus, they must consume other food sources to meet their nutritional requirements, especially for protein which is minimal in nectar.
Insects and spiders as a supplemental food source
To compensate for nutritional deficiencies in nectar, hummingbirds also eat small insects and spiders. By capturing bugs, hummingbirds obtain proteins, amino acids and vitamins such as B vitamins that their bodies need. Some species get most of their essential amino acids from eating insects.
Some of the bugs that hummingbirds are known to eat include:
- Mosquitoes
- Fruit flies
- Gnats
- Aphids
- Spiders
- Caterpillars
- Ants
They use their slender beaks to precision pick their tiny prey out of the air. They also forage along leaves and branches looking for insects to eat. While in flight, they expertly pluck bugs right out of webs. The protein gained from eating insects supports muscle growth, egg production and other important bodily functions.
Why baby hummingbirds need insects
Newly hatched hummingbirds rely exclusively on insects for food. They do not have the ability or instincts to feed on nectar right away. So their mothers provide them with pre-digested bugs which are high in protein. This rapid growth phase requires a lot of nutrients to build muscle mass and feathers. After a couple weeks, the young hummingbirds mature enough to start visiting flowers for nectar.
The percentage of insects vs. nectar in their diet
Research into the diet of hummingbirds shows that the ratio of nectar to insects varies by species and geographic locations. But insects typically comprise 5-15% of their total food intake. Some exceptions have a higher proportion of insects, especially when feeding their chicks.
A study looking at hummingbird species in Arizona analyzed their stomach contents. Here are the results for the percentage of invertebrates in their diet:
| Hummingbird Species | % of Invertebrates Eaten |
|---|---|
| Blue-throated Hummingbird | 5-10% |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | 10-15% |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 5-15% |
| Costa’s Hummingbird | 10-15% |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | 5-10% |
| Rufous Hummingbird | 10-15% |
| Calliope Hummingbird | 15-20% |
Another study on Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Ontario found that insects comprised about 20% of the diet for adults during the breeding season when they were provisioning young. The proportion was lower the rest of the year around 8%.
So while nectar makes up the bulk of their calories, hummingbirds do get a meaningful nutrition boost from eating insects and spiders.
How they hunt and eat bugs
Hummingbirds have several tactics for hunting insects:
- Perch and wait – They will station on a vantage point and sally out to catch any flies or bugs that come near.
- Glean along branches – While perched, they scan nearby leaves and branches for crawling bugs then dart over to pick them off.
- Hover and grab – They are able to precisely hover in place and snatch bugs right out of the air with precision.
- Swipe from webs – Hummingbirds have been observed flying up to spider webs, grabbing the spider and attached insects, then flying off.
- Hawk flying insects – In a method called hawking, they chase after and capture airborne insects while in flight.
The long tapered bill of hummingbirds is an efficient tool for seizing and impaling tiny insects. They have excellent vision to detect small prey. And their rapid maneuverability allows them to deftly capture bugs on the move. Once speared on their beaks, they consume them promptly.
Why do they need the protein?
The main reason hummingbirds seek out alternate food like insects is to acquire vital amino acids and protein for bodily functions that nectar alone cannot provide. Here are some of the key benefits protein from insects provides hummingbirds:
- Growth – Protein enables muscle and tissue growth in young developing hummingbirds.
- Reproduction – Egg production requires protein intake.
- Energy – Amino acids are used for energy metabolism.
- Muscles – Their rapid flight requires protein-fueled muscle capacity.
- Enzymes – Protein is needed to produce metabolic enzymes.
- Feathers – Keratin protein makes up their colorful feathers.
- Antioxidants – Insects provide antioxidant amino acids.
Without adequate protein intake from some animal sources, hummingbirds would not thrive and survive on nectar alone. Insects provide an essential complementary food source.
Do all hummingbird species eat insects?
Most hummingbird species include insects in their diet at least occasionally. There are over 300 types of hummingbirds throughout the Americas. Here are some examples of widespread species and whether they consume insects:
| Hummingbird Species | Insect Consumption |
|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Yes, eats insects |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | Yes, eats insects |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Yes, eats insects |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | Yes, eats insects |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Yes, eats insects |
| Buff-bellied Hummingbird | Yes, eats insects |
| Violet-tailed Sylph | Yes, eats insects |
| Violet-capped Woodnymph | Yes, eats insects |
| Giant Hummingbird | Yes, eats insects |
| Bee Hummingbird | Yes, eats insects |
Even the tiniest Bee Hummingbird, which is only about 2 inches long, consumes ants and other tiny bugs to supplement its nectar diet. The protein requirements of hummingbirds are high, so getting nutrients from insects is an essential adaptation shared by nearly all species.
Conclusion
While hummingbirds are famous for drinking sugary flower nectar, they also need vital nutrients obtained by catching and eating small insects and spiders. This makes them omnivores rather than pure nectarivores. The protein gained from eating invertebrates supports their high metabolism, growth, reproduction and energetic lifestyle. So insects comprise anywhere from 5-20% of the typical hummingbird’s diet depending on species, location and season. The proportion is especially higher when they are feeding protein-rich bugs to their young. So the small amount of insects eaten provides hummingbirds with big nutritional benefits!
