Can a hummingbird recover from a broken wing?

Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures, known for their ability to hover and fly backwards. Their wings beat up to 80 times per second, allowing them to maneuver with incredible precision. But what happens if a hummingbird’s wing gets injured or broken? Can these tiny birds recover and fly again?

Causes of Broken Wings in Hummingbirds

There are a few potential causes of a broken or injured wing in a hummingbird:

• Colliding with windows, cars, trees, or other objects
• Predator attacks from birds like hawks or cats
• Entanglement in spider webs or human-made objects
• Nestlings falling from the nest before they can fly
• Disease or birth defects resulting in weak, fragile bones

Young fledglings are especially prone to injury as they learn to fly and maneuver. They may tumble from the nest or crash into things as they practice flying. Windows are a major hazard that fledglings often collide into.

Types of Wing Injuries

Wing injuries in hummingbirds can range from minor bruises to complex fractures. Some common types of wing injuries include:

• Bruised or sprained wing – Minor damage to the muscles or ligaments. May cause swelling and bruising.
• Dislocated shoulder – Separated joint between the wing and shoulder.
• Wing fracture – A partial or complete break in one of the wing bones.
• Torn tendons/ligaments – Ruptured tissues connecting bones.
• Nerve damage – Injury to nerves that control wing movement.

The location, severity, and type of injury will determine if and how the wing can heal. Minor bruising or sprains have the best chance of full recovery.

Can a Hummingbird Recover from a Broken Wing?

With proper treatment and rehabilitation, many hummingbirds can fully recover from a broken wing injury. However, recovery depends on several key factors:

• Type and location of the fracture
• Degree of misalignment of the broken bones
• Severity of soft tissue damage
• Ability to immobilize the wing for healing
• The bird’s age and overall health

The most important aspect is immobilizing the wing so it can heal in the proper alignment. This requires specialized wing wraps or splints applied by avian veterinarians or rehabilitators. If the bones heal in the correct position, the bird has a good chance of regaining full flight ability after the bones mend in 4-6 weeks.

Younger, healthy hummingbirds tend to recover better than older birds with chronic diseases or weak bones. Small stable fractures have better outcomes than severely misaligned breaks or bone shattering.

Prognosis for Severe Wing Fractures

For more severe, unstable wing fractures, the prognosis is poorer. If the bones heal in an improper position, it can impede flight and render the bird unable to fly well enough to survive in the wild. Nerve damage, torn tendons, and severe soft tissue trauma can also limit recovery.

While euthanasia is sometimes the most humane option, an avian vet may recommend amputation for a severely damaged wing that cannot be repaired. Hummingbirds can adapt well to losing one wing if the shoulder joint remains intact. They gracefully fly in circles by rapidly flapping their one good wing.

Rehabilitation Process

Hummingbirds require specialized rehabilitation to recover from a broken wing. Here are the general steps:

1. First aid – Immobilize the wing against the body using a makeshift bandage, tape, or paper brace. Avoid trying to set the fracture.
2. Veterinary assessment – An avian vet will diagnose the type and severity of injury through exams, palpation, and x-rays.
3. Stabilization – The vet will realign the bones and apply a splint or bandage to immobilize the wing for healing.
4. Supportive care – The bird will need a nutritious recovery diet and monitoring in a quiet space during initial healing.
5. Sling or cage rest – Restrict activity by using a figure-8 wing sling or small cage.
6. Ongoing bandage changes – The vet will regularly change the bandages and monitor recovery progress.
7. Physical therapy – Gentle range-of-motion exercises prevent stiffness once the fracture stabilizes.
8. Flight testing – The vet or rehabilitator will test and retrain flight ability before release.

This recovery process takes 4-8 weeks depending on the injury’s severity. Even after the bones heal, rebuilding flight muscles and conditioning takes time. Throughout rehabilitation, the bird must be protected from further injury.

At-Home Care

Caring for a recovering hummingbird at home requires diligent monitoring, patience, and an avian vet’s guidance. The bird should be kept in a warm, quiet space with plenty of nutritional food and supplements. A critical step is inspecting and changing bandages as directed by the vet. The bandages keep the wing properly immobilized during the healing process.

Ideally, the bird should be assessed by the vet weekly to ensure the injury is stable. Once the bones have mended, exercise and flight training can begin under the vet’s supervision. Premature flight attempts may re-injure the wing before tissues have fully healed. Success often depends on the bird being returned to flight shape before its muscles atrophy from long periods of restricted activity.

Can a Wild Hummingbird Recover from a Broken Wing?

Wild hummingbirds face much lower odds of recovering from broken wings. Without the specialized veterinary care and rehabilitation, improperly healed fractures often leave wild birds unable to survive in nature. Even if the bones mend well, the birds still require flight conditioning and muscle training they won’t receive in the wild.

That said, some minor wing injuries like bruised shoulders or small stable fractures may heal on their own in the wild. If the injury doesn’t drastically impair flight ability, wild hummingbirds can strengthen their wings through normal use and live a full life.

Ultimately though, severe wing fractures and nerve damage usually lead to a grim outcome for wild hummingbirds. Even if they can eat and temporarily survive, the inability to fly proficiently keeps them from competing for food or migrating. Life in the wild demands perfect flight maneuverability.

Can Hummingbirds Live with One Wing?

While rare in the wild, hummingbirds can adapt to losing one wing and live a long life in captivity. If the shoulder joint remains intact, they gracefully soar in circles by rapidly flapping their one good wing. However, surviving in nature with one wing is extremely difficult.

Hummingbirds rely on precision hovering and flying backwards to feed on nectar. Maneuvering with one wing makes feeding much more energy intensive. Predator evasion is also compromised. And migration over thousands of miles would be impossible without two functioning wings.

But captive hummingbirds do remarkably well on just one wing as pets. With a consistent nectar supply within easy reach, they can thrive for many years despite their limitation. Zoos and aviaries have successfully cared for one-winged hummingbirds that even breed and raise chicks!

Preventing Hummingbird Wing Injuries

While occasional accidents happen, there are ways we can help prevent wing injuries in hummingbirds:

• Putting stickers or tape on windows to deter collisions.
• Ensuring wind chimes, dreamcatchers, and strung beads don’t entrap birds.
• Keeping cats indoors, especially during fledging season.
• Driving carefully and keeping an eye out for swooping hummers.
• Cutting down hazards like wire fencing.
• Cleaning up litter that could entangle birds.

Education is also key. Teaching children not to touch chicks or nests prevents premature fledging. Regularly checking window collisions during migration can save downed hummers. With some simple actions, we can help hummingbirds avoid tragic wing injuries.

Conclusion

Broken wings are devastating injuries for hummingbirds. But with rapid first aid, veterinary care, and proper rehabilitation, many can make a full recovery. Mild fractures have the best prognosis if the bones are stabilized for proper healing. Even severe injuries can be survived with amputation.

Wild hummingbirds face far greater challenges recovering from broken wings. Without supportive care, permanent impairment is likely. But focused rehab gives captive hummers a good chance of regaining flight and living a long life, even with just one wing!

While prevention is ideal, rapid response by rehabilitators gives hummingbirds the best chance of thriving even after substantial wing trauma. With committed care and physical therapy, these tiny tough birds can find the strength to soar again!