Hummingbirds are found only in the Americas. Their range extends from Alaska to Chile, with the greatest diversity occurring in the tropical regions of Central and South America. Here are some key facts about where hummingbirds live and what they need to thrive:
Hummingbird Habitat Requirements
Hummingbirds require specific habitat conditions in order to survive. These include:
- Flowers – An abundance of tubular flowers provides nectar, which is the primary food source for hummingbirds.
- Trees and shrubs – Trees and shrubs provide safe nesting sites and perches for hummingbirds.
- Water – A clean, reliable source of water is needed for drinking and bathing.
- Insects – Small insects and spiders provide essential proteins for hummingbirds.
- Moderate temperatures – Hummingbirds fare best in warm, temperate climates and cannot survive freezing temperatures.
Places that provide all of these habitat needs – food, shelter, water and moderate climate – allow hummingbirds to establish stable populations. Areas lacking in one or more of these requirements are less suitable for hummingbirds to live year-round.
Range and Distribution
Only the Americas offer the right mix of habitat features for hummingbirds. Here’s a look at their range:
- North America – Around two dozen species breed as far north as Alaska and Canada. The ruby-throated hummingbird has the widest breeding range, extending across much of eastern North America.
- Central America – Over 100 species inhabit the tropical forests of Mexico and Central America. Costa Rica alone has over 50 resident hummingbird species.
- Caribbean – Islands like Cuba and Jamaica host several endemic hummingbirds not found anywhere else.
- South America – Ecuador has the most hummingbird diversity in the world with over 130 species. Many South American species inhabit cloud forests at higher elevations.
A few hummingbird species migrate seasonally between North America and Central America, following the bloom of nectar-producing flowers. But most species are permanent residents within their tropical and subtropical ranges.
Factors Limiting Habitability
Here are some factors that limit hummingbirds from inhabiting areas outside of the Americas:
- Cold temperatures – Hummingbirds have high metabolisms and struggle to maintain body heat. They are sensitive to freezing temperatures and can only survive where the climate stays moderately warm year-round.
- Lack of evolutionary history – Hummingbirds evolved in the Americas. Without a shared evolutionary history, other continents lack the plant adaptations necessary to support hummingbird pollination.
- Competition – Old World continents have sunbirds and honeyeaters that fill similar ecological niches to hummingbirds. Competitive exclusion prevents hummingbirds from gaining a foothold where other nectar-feeders are already present.
- Geographical barriers – Oceans, mountains, and deserts are significant obstacles that prevent hummingbirds from expanding their range beyond the Americas, where they originated and diversified.
Attempts to introduce hummingbirds to other parts of the world, including Europe and Asia, have consistently failed due to these limiting factors. The specific habitat needs and intrinsic limitations of hummingbirds have prevented them from successfully spreading outside of their native ranges.
Can Hummingbirds Live in All Climate Types?
Within the Americas, hummingbirds live across a diverse range of climates and habitats, including:
| Climate Type | Example Locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical rainforest | Amazon basin, Central America | Very high diversity of hummingbird species |
| Cloud forest | Andes Mountains | Cool, moist mountain habitat |
| Desert and scrubland | American Southwest | Low diversity, specialized species |
| Temperate forest | Eastern North America | Only a few migratory species |
| Subarctic and alpine | Alaska, Canadian Rockies | Extreme conditions limit species diversity |
Tropical and subtropical climates support the most hummingbird species, but they can be found in almost any warmer environment in the Americas that meets their basic habitat needs. However, a few climate types are unsuitable:
- Extreme deserts – Lack of water and flowers prohibits hummingbirds.
- High mountains – High elevations are too cold for hummingbirds.
- Polar climates – Frigid temperatures prohibit hummingbirds.
Aside from these extremes, hummingbirds have adapted to live across an impressive diversity of climates in the New World. This adaptability enhances their range, provided their habitat needs can be met.
Can Hummingbirds Live in Cities and Suburbs?
Hummingbirds frequently visit urban areas and may even nest there, provided some habitat requirements are available:
- Food source – Backyard feeders and ornamental flowers provide nectar sources.
- Trees – Trees, shrubs, and buildings offer nest sites.
- Water – Hummingbird feeders and bird baths supply water.
While cities typically have warmer microclimates that hummingbirds appreciate, a lack of native plants and insects may reduce the suitability of wholly urban environments. Still, ingenious hummingbirds make the best of neighborhood conditions. Their flexibility allows them to inhabit suburbs and cities across much of their range, in habitats such as:
- Backyards
- Parks and gardens
- Golf courses
- College campuses
- Botanical gardens
The Anna’s hummingbird is particularly adaptive to urban settings on the western coast of North America. This ability to live around humans greatly expands the functional habitat for many hummingbird species.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds have specialized habitat requirements of food, shelter, climate, and water availability. These needs restrict them to the warmer regions of the Americas. Attempts to introduce them elsewhere have failed. Within their native ranges, however, hummingbirds occupy an impressive diversity of habitats from rainforests to deserts. Many species additionally thrive around human settlements, where backyard feeders have enabled hummingbirds to spread into suburban neighborhoods and city parks.
