Hummingbirds are a family of small, brightly colored birds only found naturally in the Americas. Known for their incredibly fast wing beats and ability to hover in midair, hummingbirds have captivated people across the world who long to see these energetic birds up close.
The United Kingdom’s cool, wet climate means it lacks the tropical and subtropical environments hummingbirds have adapted to. But that hasn’t stopped some people from attempting to attract hummingbirds to their gardens in the UK.
Are there any hummingbirds naturally found in the UK?
No, there are no hummingbird species naturally found anywhere in the UK or Europe. Hummingbirds are only native to the Americas.
Hummingbirds found in the wild are restricted to the Western Hemisphere because they evolved there. Over millions of years, hummingbirds adapted to the tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates of North, Central, and South America.
The United Kingdom simply does not provide the proper climate or native flowering plants that hummingbirds rely on. Hummingbirds require warm temperatures year-round and cannot survive in cold winters. Even during warm British summers, there are not enough large, tubular flowers full of nectar to sustain hummingbirds.
So while various hummingbird species have ranges stretching from Alaska to Chile, they are totally absent from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, where suitable climates and food sources do not exist. There are no naturally occurring hummingbird populations found anywhere in the UK.
Have hummingbirds ever been spotted in the UK?
There have been a handful of unconfirmed hummingbird sightings in the UK over the years. However, experts overwhelmingly agree these claimed sightings of hummingbirds in England, Scotland, Wales, or other parts of Britain are cases of mistaken identity or released pets.
Here are some reasons why reported hummingbird sightings are dismissed:
– The climate is unsuitable for tropical hummingbirds to survive British winters. Any sightings in winter almost certainly case of misidentification.
– Hummingbirds cannot travel across the Atlantic Ocean to reach Britain. The farthest north they migrate is the southern United States and Mexico.
– Brief summer sightings likely involve escaped exotic pets or a visiting migratory European hummingbird lookalike such as a hawkmoth.
– There is no photographic evidence confirming hummingbirds in Britain. Sightings rely purely on fleeting visual impressions that could easily be another fast-moving bird or insect.
Without a single verified record, there is no proof hummingbirds have ever crossed the Atlantic and appeared naturally in Britain. Apparent sightings almost always turn out to be bees, dragonflies, or other buzzing insects mistakable for hummingbirds at quick glance.
Can you attract hummingbirds to the UK?
While keeping tropical hummingbirds in Britain as pets is possible with proper permits and facilities, attracting wild hummingbirds to the UK simply isn’t feasible. Here are some reasons why you won’t have any luck drawing hummingbirds to your garden:
– Britain’s cool maritime climate is unsuitable for tropical hummingbirds. Even during summer, temperatures typically do not get warm enough.
– Flowers in British gardens often do not provide enough nectar or the types of tubular blossoms hummingbirds prefer.
– There are no populations of hummingbirds in Europe for your garden to draw from. Hummingbirds do not migrate this far.
– Hummingbirds are territorial and aggressive. They do not travel in flocks across vast distances like some migratory songbirds.
– The Atlantic Ocean represents an insurmountable barrier. Hummingbirds do not have physiology suited for long overwater travel.
– Britain lacks the proper habitats, food sources, and conditions for breeding hummingbirds. Your garden alone cannot possibly provide enough sustenance.
Unfortunately, the odds of having hummingbirds come to any garden in the UK are essentially zero. You do not have the necessary elements to attract and support hummingbirds. Getting hummingbirds to Britain would mean transporting them artificially as pets.
What other birds in the UK resemble hummingbirds?
Part of the reason people occasionally report seeing hummingbirds in the UK is because certain British birds share some superficial similarities or behaviors:
– **Swifts** – These are small, fast-flying birds that can hover and beat their wings rapidly like hummingbirds. During summer, swifts screaming through the skies may briefly appear to be hummingbirds.
– **Hawkmoths** – These large insects make a humming or buzzing sound while feeding on flower nectar. Their fast, darting flight resembles hummingbirds.
– **Long-tailed tits** – Tiny acrobatic tits with long tails flitting through trees appear somewhat similar to hummingbirds.
– **Bee-eaters** – Rare summer visitors to Britain, bee-eaters are colorful birds that snatch up bees and other flying insects while airborne. Their feeding style evokes hummingbirds.
– **Nuthatches** – These agile birds can hang upside-down on branches and flit sideways along tree trunks like hummingbirds.
– **Redstarts** – Males have reddish tails that could potentially cause confusion with a hummingbird’s colors when seen briefly.
None of these species are related to hummingbirds taxonomically. They have evolved certain superficial hummingbird-like traits completely independently. But they may explain some mistaken sightings thanks to the power of expectation and wishful thinking. The human brain can easily turn a distant swift or bee into an imagined hummingbird.
Why are hummingbirds attracted to red color feeders?
Many people buy bright red hummingbird feeders hoping to draw these alluring birds to their yard. But given hummingbirds are exclusively found in the Americas, why are they attracted to the color red?
There are a few reasons red feeders successfully attract hummingbirds:
– **Flower colors** – Many tubular flowers favored by hummingbirds are red, orange, or pink in color. The color red signifies a good nectar source.
– **Color vision** – Hummingbirds can see color, especially shades of red. The color stimulates their visual senses.
– **Sight lines** – The color red stands out clearly against green foliage at a distance. This helps hummingbirds spot feeders.
– **Energy** – The wavelength of red corresponds to where hummingbirds see best to find food efficiently and save energy.
– **Territory** – Male hummingbirds may see red as a signal to defend their territory aggressively.
– **Adaptations** – Generations of hummingbirds associating red flowers with nectar has selected for excellent red color vision.
So hummingbirds don’t specifically love the color red itself. Red flowers and feeders simply stand out and remind hummingbirds of favorite nectar sources. This ingrained association and exceptional vision guides hummingbirds to red feeders across North America.
What is the closest thing to a hummingbird in the UK?
Hummingbirds are unique to the Americas, but the UK does have some native birds that share characteristics and behaviors with hummingbirds:
– **Swifts** – These are the closest match when it comes to small size, aerial agility, and rapid wingbeats. Swifts even make screaming vocalizations like some hummingbirds.
– **Nuthatches** – Like hummingbirds, nuthatches are agile climbers. They can hang upside-down, crawl down tree trunks, and perch in nearly any position.
– **Wagtails** – Thanks to their incredibly long tail feathers, wagtails somewhat resemble certain streamer-tailed hummingbirds.
– **Goldcrests** – Weighing just 5-7 grams, goldcrests are Britain’s smallest bird. Some bee hummingbird species are the only birds smaller than goldcrests.
– **Long-tailed tits** – The tiny size, round body, and long thin tail makes long-tailed tits one of the closer British equivalents to hummingbirds visually.
– **Firecrests** – Males have brightly colored red and orange crests. Some firecrest behaviors like territory defense parallel hummingbirds.
No British bird perfectly mimics all the traits we associate with hummingbirds. But looking at swifts, nuthatches, wagtails, and other species can offer glimpses of hummingbird-esque qualities. Watching them may help satisfy one’s longing to see hummingbird-like birds in the UK.
Can you keep hummingbirds as pets in the UK?
It is legal to keep hummingbirds as pets in the UK with the proper exotic pet permits, enclosures, and care. However, hummingbirds have very complex and challenging needs in captivity.
Here are some considerations for keeping pet hummingbirds in the UK:
– A Specialist Class C license is required to own hummingbirds legally in Britain.
– Proper permits must be obtained if importing hummingbirds from another country.
– Enclosure size and conditions must meet legal minimum standards and mimic their natural environment.
– A specialist avian veterinarian will be required for medical care due to their fragility.
– Feeding a proper nectar formula and live insects is critical and difficult to get right.
– Meeting their social, behavioral, and mental enrichment needs poses a challenge.
– Sufficient free flight time out of the enclosure each day is recommended.
– Male hummingbirds may be territorial and aggressive. Some species cannot be housed together.
– They have short lifespans of just 2-5 years in captivity.
Keeping hummingbirds as pets is an incredibly challenging endeavor that the vast majority of people cannot realistically provide for properly. Their specific care in terms of diet, housing, veterinary needs, handling, behavior, and environmental conditions make them very poorly suited as pets for everyone except the most specialist aviculturalists.
For these reasons, most experts advise strongly against trying to keep hummingbirds as pets, especially casual hobbyists without extensive experience. It is best to simply admire hummingbirds in the wild when visiting countries where they naturally occur.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are captivating birds only found naturally in the Americas. Unfortunately, it is impossible to attract wild hummingbirds to Britain. The climate is unsuitable and they cannot cross the Atlantic. Brief sightings are always cases of mistaken identity. But other British birds like swifts and goldcrests share some superficial traits with hummingbirds. And with the right permits and expertise, hummingbirds can legally be kept as challenging exotic pets in the UK. While we cannot expect to see wild hummingbirds buzzing around our gardens, we can still admire their beauty and unique characteristics when viewed in their native environments across the Western Hemisphere.
