Hummingbirds are small, colorful birds that are specialized nectar feeders. Their long, slender beaks and tongues allow them to access nectar from flowers that other birds cannot. While nectar is their main food source, hummingbirds will also eat small insects for the protein. But can hummingbirds eat fruit as part of their diet?
Can Hummingbirds Eat Fruit?
Yes, hummingbirds can and do eat fruit. While nectar and insects make up the bulk of their diet, hummingbirds will supplement with fruit for additional carbohydrates and nutrients. They tend to prefer smaller fruits with softer pulp and higher sugar content.
Types of Fruit Hummingbirds Eat
Some of the fruits that hummingbirds are known to eat include:
- Berries – raspberries, blackberries, currants, elderberries
- Tree fruits – cherry, peach, nectarine, plum, pear, apple
- Tropical fruits – banana, mango, papaya, passionfruit, pineapple
- Citrus fruits – orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit
- Melons – cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon
- Figs
- Tomatoes
As you can see, hummingbirds eat a wide variety of soft, juicy fruits. They like fruits that are brightly colored to attract them.
How Do Hummingbirds Eat Fruit?
Hummingbirds have specialized beaks that are long and slender with a slight downward curve at the tip. This allows them to access nectar from tubular flowers. When eating fruit, they use their beaks to pierce the flesh and suck up the sugary juice.
They will pierce soft skinned fruits like berries, peaches, plums, and tomatoes. For fruits with harder skins like oranges or lemons, hummingbirds will look for entry points from damage or openings at the stem.
While they primarily drink the juice, hummingbirds will also nibble on soft fruit pulp when it is available. Their tiny beaks prevent them from consuming large chunks of fruit.
Why Do Hummingbirds Eat Fruit?
There are a few key reasons why hummingbirds supplement their diet with fruit:
- Energy – The simple sugars in fruit provide quick energy.
- Carbohydrates – Fruit provides an additional source of carbohydrates for energy.
- Nutrition – Fruits contain vitamins and minerals that hummingbirds need like vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
- Water – The juice from fruits provides extra hydration.
- Availability – When flowers are not blooming, fruit may be more readily available.
The natural sugars and nutrients found in fruit make them an excellent supplemental food source when nectar or insects are in short supply.
When Do Hummingbirds Eat Fruit?
Hummingbirds will eat fruit any time it is available as a supplement in addition to nectar. There are some times when hummingbirds may be more inclined to feed on fruit:
- During migration – Extra energy from fruit helps fuel migration.
- Before breeding season – Nutrition from fruits helps with reproduction.
- During winter – Flowers and nectar are less available so they rely more on fruit.
- During drought or rain – When flowers are not blooming, fruit provides food.
Having a supply of fruit available in your garden during different seasons provides a consistent food source when nectar is limited.
How to Offer Fruit for Hummingbirds
If you want to supplement the diet of hummingbirds in your yard, here are some tips for offering fruit:
- Select soft, fleshy fruits with higher sugar content like berries, melons, peaches, citrus fruits, etc.
- Wash fruits thoroughly and cut into halves or quarters.
- Skewer fruit chunks on sticks, hang in fruit feeders, or place directly on platform feeders.
- Replace fruit frequently as it can spoil quickly in warm weather.
- Clean feeders regularly to prevent mold and bacteria.
- Position feeders for easy access – near flowers, trees, and other cover.
Fruit feeders can attract not just hummingbirds but also other wildlife like butterflies and bees. Only put out small amounts of fruit that will get eaten promptly to avoid spoilage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will hummingbirds eat bananas?
Yes, hummingbirds will eat bananas. Bananas are soft, sweet, and high in nutrients making them an ideal fruit for hummingbirds. Slice bananas into small pieces and skewer onto a feeder or simply lay chunks out on a platform feeder. Ripe bananas tend to attract more wildlife.
Do hummingbirds eat apples?
Hummingbirds will occasionally eat apples, especially overripe, soft apples. The small size of their beaks prevents them from eating whole apples. They can access apples that have been sliced into small pieces or softened apples with holes from woodpeckers or other damage.
What fruits can hummingbirds not eat?
There are some fruits that may be unsafe or unappealing for hummingbirds, including:
- Dried fruits – high sugar concentration may be dangerous
- Large fruit chunks – difficult for a small bird to eat
- Hard fruits – unable to pierce the skin or flesh
- Bittersweet fruits – not tempting to their sweet tooth
- Citrus skins and rinds – hard to digest
It’s best to stick to smaller pieces of soft, fleshy, sweet fruits.
Do hummingbirds eat fruit from feeders?
Yes, hummingbirds will readily eat fruit from specialized feeders. These feeders have skewers, cups, or trays designed to hold small slices of fruit. Hanging fruit feeders near nectar feeders or in open areas are most likely to attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hummingbirds can and do eat fruit as a supplement to their primary nectar diet. Soft, fleshy, sweet fruits like berries, melons, citrus fruits, peaches, and tropical fruits are favored. The natural sugars provide quick energy while the nutrients help meet their nutritional needs. Offering sliced fruit, either skewered or in small cups, in a specialty feeder can provide an additional food source to attract hummingbirds to your garden.
