Hummingbirds are remarkably resilient little birds, but hitting a window can still be dangerous for them. The good news is that with proper care and rehabilitation, many hummingbirds can fully recover from a window strike. Here are some key questions and answers about hummingbirds and window collisions:
How common are window strikes for hummingbirds?
Window strikes are a significant threat to hummingbirds. One study estimated that up to a billion birds die annually in the United States from striking windows. Hummingbirds’ small size, high metabolism, and tendency to fly near windows make them especially vulnerable.
Why do hummingbirds hit windows?
There are a few reasons hummingbirds collide with windows:
- They see reflections of trees, plants, and sky in window glass and try to fly to them. This is common at greenhouses, sunrooms, and large picture windows.
- They don’t see the glass and simply fly directly into the window. This occurs more often at homes with many windows.
- They become stunned or injured after hitting one window, making them prone to strike another window nearby.
What injuries do hummingbirds sustain from window strikes?
Hummingbirds are moving extremely fast when they collide with windows. As a result, they can sustain a variety of traumatic injuries including:
- External injuries: Cuts, bruises, swelling, broken bones, damaged eyes, beak, wings, or feathers.
- Internal injuries: Concussions, organ damage, internal bleeding or swelling, spinal injuries.
Without treatment, these injuries can rapidly lead to serious complications or death. Prompt medical care greatly improves a hummingbird’s chances of survival.
How can you tell if a hummingbird is injured after hitting a window?
Signs that a hummingbird may be injured after striking a window include:
- Appearing stunned, weak, or unable to fly properly
- Laying on the ground or staying in one spot without moving
- Rapid or labored breathing
- Eyes closed
- Feathers damaged, wings drooping unevenly
- Cuts, swelling, or bleeding from the beak, wings, or eyes
- Tremors or twitching
A hummingbird exhibiting any of these symptoms after hitting a window needs medical intervention as soon as possible.
What should you do if you find an injured hummingbird?
Follow these steps if you find a hummingbird injured from hitting a window:
- Gently collect the bird and place it in a cardboard box or ventilated container lined with a soft cloth.
- Move the bird to a quiet, dark, and warm location to reduce stress.
- Do not try to give the hummingbird food or water.
- Contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center or hummingbird rescue group to arrange medical care.
- Keep the bird in a safe, dark place until help arrives. Monitor it periodically.
Getting prompt professional assistance is vital for the hummingbird’s survival and recovery.
How do rehabilitators treat injured hummingbirds?
At a rehabilitation facility, injured hummingbirds receive specialized medical treatment including:
- A full assessment and diagnosis of injuries.
- Stabilization – controlling bleeding, immobilizing fractures, treating for shock.
- Surgical procedures if needed – repairing beaks or wings, removing damaged eyes.
- Medications – antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, pain relievers.
- Fluid therapy and nutritional support.
- Careful monitoring during recovery.
With professional veterinary care, many injured hummingbirds can fully recover even from severe window strike trauma.
What is the survival rate for hummingbirds that hit windows?
The survival rate for hummingbirds that collide with windows depends on several factors:
- Severity of injuries – Mildly stunned birds have higher survival odds than those with fractures, hemorrhaging, etc.
- Speed of intervention – Birds cared for immediately do better than those left unattended.
- Age of the bird – Adults tend to have higher survival rates than fledglings or juveniles.
- Rehabilitation process – Quality of treatment influences recovery success.
One Wildlife Center reported a 75% release rate for window strike hummingbirds it cared for. With quick, expert intervention, healthy adult hummingbirds often recover successfully.
Survival Rate By Injury Severity
| Injury Severity | Survival Rate Estimate |
|---|---|
| Mild – Stun, minor cuts | 90% or higher |
| Moderate – Fractures, wounds, eye damage | 60-80% |
| Severe – Concussion, internal injuries, heavy bleeding | 20-40% |
As this table illustrates, survival rates are very high for mildly injured hummingbirds given prompt care. But severe internal trauma lowers the odds significantly.
Can hummingbirds fully recover after hitting a window?
Yes, with proper rehabilitation, many hummingbirds do make a full recovery after colliding with a window, even from substantial injuries. Here are some examples of full recovery:
- Regaining the ability to fly, feed, and function normally after fractures, wounds, or concussions heal.
- Growing new feathers to replace any lost or damaged in an injury.
- Overcoming spinal cord trauma and paralysis with physical therapy and supportive care.
- Receiving prosthetic eye devices to compensate for lost eyesight.
With time, care, and the incredible resilience of hummingbirds, full and successful recoveries are very possible. The bird may be releasable back to the wild in many cases.
How long does it take for a hummingbird to recover from hitting a window?
The recovery timeframe for a hummingbird injured by a window strike can range from a few days to a few months depending on factors such as:
- Type and severity of injury – Minor bruising may heal in days, while fractured bones take weeks.
- Age and health of the bird – Younger hummingbirds with shorter bones require less time to heal fractures.
- Any complications – Infections or other setbacks prolong recovery.
- Quality of rehabilitation – Expert care speeds healing.
According to one wildlife center, the average rehabilitation time for hummingbirds that hit windows is 2-3 weeks. But more serious injuries could require 2-3 months before the bird can be safely released.
Estimated Recovery Times by Injury
| Injury | Recovery Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Minor cuts, bruises | 3-7 days |
| Concussion | 1-2 weeks |
| Broken wing | 2-4 weeks |
| Fractured beak | 2-3 weeks |
| Damaged eye | 2-8 weeks |
| Spinal or internal injuries | 4+ weeks |
This table provides estimates for how long typical window strike injuries may take to heal with appropriate veterinary rehabilitation.
What can you do to prevent hummingbird window collisions?
There are several effective options for reducing window strikes by hummingbirds in your yard:
- Install screens – Screens block reflections and alert birds to solid barriers.
- Apply decals – Stickers, tape, or string spaced closely on windows deter strikes.
- Keep feeders far from windows – Place feeders closer to vegetation and further from glass.
- Close curtains and blinds – Eliminate reflections and views seen as flight paths.
- Use UV-reflective glass – Some new window materials make glass more visible to birds.
Taking a few simple precautions can greatly reduce collision risks and save hummingbirds’ lives.
Conclusion
Window strikes are a serious hazard for hummingbirds. Their small size and anatomy make injuries life-threatening without prompt care. However, these resilient birds can often fully recover with wildlife rehabilitation, given their wounds are properly treated. While preventing collisions in the first place is ideal, quick intervention, expert care, and ample recovery time give injured hummingbirds the best chance of returning successfully to the wild after a traumatic window strike.
