Hummingbirds are remarkable little birds capable of hovering in mid-air and flying backwards. Their tiny size and fast flapping wings make them one of the most unique birds. But can these delicate-looking creatures actually go in water?
Can hummingbirds swim?
Hummingbirds cannot swim. Their wings are not designed for propulsion in water. The feathers and bones are too delicate and light to enable hummingbirds to paddle effectively enough to stay afloat.
While hummingbirds can flutter over water to drink and bathe, they cannot swim under the surface like ducks and other waterfowl can. If a hummingbird accidentally falls into deep water, it will struggle to get out and likely drown if it cannot reach a shallow area or object to climb onto.
Do hummingbirds bathe in water?
Yes, hummingbirds do bathe in water. They enjoy taking baths to keep their plumage clean and free of parasites. In the wild, hummingbirds will dip in and out of water sources such as rain puddles, waterfalls, or streams. They prefer shallow water they can easily fly out of.
You may see hummingbirds visiting a bird bath or water feature in your yard. They will briefly hover over and dip their feet, tail and belly into the water to bathe. Bathing helps remove dirt and other particles from their feathers.
How do hummingbirds drink water?
Hummingbirds have specially adapted tongues that allow them to drink while hovering. Their tongues are long, forked tubes that they can rapidly move in and out of their beaks. This allows them to lap up nectar and water on the wing.
When drinking from standing water, hummingbirds will hover just above the surface. They dip their beaks into the water and use their forked tongues to quickly draw water into their mouths. This enables them to drink without having to land.
Do hummingbirds swim underwater?
No, hummingbirds do not have the ability to swim underwater. They lack the adaptations required for this type of underwater movement. Their wings are not designed for paddling or propulsion in water.
Hummingbirds have very delicate bones that are hollow and lightweight to enable flight. Their feathers are also designed for airborne movement. Neither their wings nor their feathers provide the needed waterproofing or weight to enable swimming beneath the surface.
While hummingbirds can dip underwater briefly to bathe, they cannot swim effectively. If submerged, they would struggle to return to the surface.
Can baby hummingbirds swim?
Baby hummingbirds, called hatchlings or chicks, cannot swim either. Like adult hummingbirds, their physical structure is designed for flight rather than swimming. Their feathers and wings are not built to enable swimming motions.
Young hummingbirds could especially be in danger if they fell into water after leaving the nest. At this stage, their wings are not yet strong enough for sustained flight. Without flight skills or swimming ability, the chicks would have great difficulty getting out of deep water.
Even if very close to the edge, a chick may still get waterlogged if its feathers became soaked. Young hummingbirds lack the water resistance required to move through water efficiently enough to reach safety.
Do hummingbirds drown in water?
Yes, hummingbirds can drown in water if they end up submerged and cannot escape. As they lack swimming skills, deep or extensive water poses a significant hazard.
Young chicks may drown if they fall out of the nest into water. Adults can also become trapped underwater if they accidentally fly or fall into a pool or other standing water and cannot get back out.
Signs that a hummingbird may have drowned include:
- Finding a deceased hummingbird in a pool, birdbath, or other water source
- Wet, waterlogged feathers on a found hummingbird
- No signs of injury or illness to otherwise explain death
Hummingbirds can drown rapidly as their sopping feathers make it nearly impossible to fly and escape from the water. Taking measures to enable easy escape from water sources can help prevent drowning.
Do hummingbirds get wet in the rain?
Hummingbirds will get wet if they are out flying in the rain. Their feathers do soak up water from rainfall. However, hummingbirds have adapted to tolerate getting briefly wet from showers.
Their feathers have a natural water-resistant quality to them that prevents the plumage from becoming fully saturated in light rain. The feathers are also structured in a way that makes it easier for water to roll off of them.
While they can handle light drizzle, hummingbirds will ultimately seek shelter from heavier or prolonged downpours. Exposure could lead their feathers to become waterlogged, making it challenging and energetically costly to stay aloft.
Can hummingbirds cross large bodies of water?
Hummingbirds are not equipped to directly cross large bodies of water like oceans, bays, or lakes. Doing so would require sustained swimming abilities they simply do not possess. However, they can and do cross these geographical barriers by taking an overland route instead.
During migration, hummingbirds will fly over land even when it means a much longer journey compared to a direct water crossing. They follow coastlines, skirt lake edges, or detour around bays and inlets rather than attempting to traverse open water.
In some cases, hummingbirds may even stopover on ships traversing open seas. There are rare reports of wayward migrants landing temporarily on vessels far from shore during migration across oceans. Even then, the hummingbirds avoid touching down on the water itself.
Do hummingbirds live near water?
Some hummingbird species are strongly associated with watery habitats. These aquatic-linked hummingbirds often nest and feed near or over wetlands, streams, waterfalls and rainforests.
Species such as the Mangrove Hummingbird and the Violet-capped Hummingbird are found in tropical coastal regions rich in mangrove forests. They feed on nectar from colorful flowers that bloom near slow-moving bodies of water.
Other hummingbirds frequent highland habitats where they can access mountain seeps, alpine lakes and wet meadows. The aptly named Swallow-tailed Hummingbird of South America is one splashy species at home near the spray and mist of waterfalls.
Access to plentiful nectar and nesting sites helps attract these specialized hummingbirds to watery areas. However, they remain reliant on their supreme aerial skills over aquatic movement while there.
How can you help a waterlogged hummingbird?
If you find a waterlogged hummingbird, there are a few steps you can take to assist it:
- Gently lift the bird out of the water and place it on a dry towel or other surface.
- Lightly dry its feathers with the towel, taking care not to ruffle them.
- Provide a very shallow dish of fresh water and sugar solution for energy.
- Let the hummingbird rest and preen its feathers back into place.
- Once its feathers have dried, it should be able to fly off on its own.
Avoid prolonged handling of waterlogged hummingbirds when possible. If the bird appears in distress or unable to recover, contact a wildlife rehabilitation center for guidance.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are fascinating flying machines, but they are not built for life in the water. While they need access to water sources for drinking and bathing, swimming and underwater diving maneuvers are beyond their physical capabilities.
Understanding the unique adaptations that enable hummingbirds to hover and fly helps shed light on why they cannot propel themselves through water. Their lightweight bones, feathers, and wings are designed to enable efficient flight, not aquatic movement.
If you have a water feature that hummingbirds visit, be sure to provide an easy exit route in case one accidentally falls in and becomes waterlogged. Shallow areas, textured surfaces, and nearby perches can help wet hummingbirds safely escape the water.
