Can you hear the sound of the hummingbird?

Do hummingbirds make any sound?

Yes, hummingbirds do make sounds, though they are not as loud and noticeable as the songs of many other birds. The main sounds hummingbirds make are:

• Humming – The humming or buzzing sound of their rapidly beating wings as they hover and fly. This is how they got the name “hummingbirds”.
• Chirps and squeaks – Hummingbirds may make squeaky vocalizations, especially when aggressive or during courtship.

The sounds of a hummingbird are very high-pitched and fast, matching their tiny size and super rapid movements. You usually have to listen quite closely to pick up the noises they produce. The humming sound of their wings is easiest to detect as they hover near a flower.

Why are hummingbird sounds so quiet?

There are a few key reasons hummingbird vocalizations are subtle and difficult to hear:

• Small size – Hummingbirds are the smallest birds, so their sound-producing organs are tiny.
• Not songbirds – Unlike many birds, hummingbirds do not have a complex syrinx (vocal organ) capable of making intricate songs.
• Rapid wings – The loud hum of their fast-beating wings tends to mask other sounds they make.
• Less social – Hummingbirds are more solitary and have less need for a variety of loud vocalizations.

The smallest hummers like bee hummingbirds weigh less than 2 grams. With their tiny voice boxes, they can only generate minimal squeaking and chirping sounds that are hard to pick up with human ears. They invest energy instead in the mechanical sound of their wings.

What do the sounds of hummingbirds mean?

Hummingbirds don’t have an extensive vocal repertoire, but their sounds still convey information:

• Humming from wings – This background humming while in flight signals a hummingbird’s location as it zips around feeding on flowers.
• Squeaks & chirps – These short, high-pitched vocalizations are used during courtship displays by males or aggression between competing hummingbirds.
• Shrill alarm calls – Hummingbirds may make a harsh, scratchy sound when warning other birds of danger or chasing intruders away.
• Begging calls by babies – Nestling hummers vocalize with squeaky chirping when asking parent birds for food.

So while hummingbirds don’t have true songs, their few simple vocalizations and wing sounds still play a role in critical communication.

How does wing humming work?

The most iconic and memorable sound of hummingbirds is of course the constant humming created by their rapidly beating wings. Here are some key points about the mechanics behind this wing humming:

• Wingbeat rate – Hummingbird wings beat around 12-80 times per second depending on the species. This rapid oscillation produces the characteristic hum.
• Aerodynamics – As their wings slice through the air, tiny vortices and turbulence trails are produced that cause the humming sound.
• Feather adaptations – Hummingbird feathers are finely adapted to minimize other noises from flight.
• Resonance – Body structures like their bill and head may serve to amplify and resonate the wing hum.

The faster a hummingbird beats its wings, the higher the pitch or frequency of the hum. The smallest species tend to have the highest-pitched wing hum, since they flap at incredible speeds.

How loud is a hummingbird’s hum?

The volume of hummingbird wing hum can range from around 62 to 70 decibels according to some estimates. This noise level is somewhere between normal human conversation at 60 dB and a vacuum cleaner at 70 dB.

But the tiny size of hummingbirds means the sound dissipates rapidly as you move away from them. Even up close, their wing hum is not intensely loud to humans due to its very high frequency. We tend to be most sensitive to mid-range frequencies in speech and our own vocalizations.

Here’s a table comparing the relative loudness of hummingbird wing hum to other common sounds:

So hummingbird wing hum is modest in loudness compared to many man-made sounds, even though the rapid humming rate makes it very noticeable.

How do hummingbird sounds compare to other birds?

Hummingbirds produce far less elaborate and loud vocalizations compared to most songbirds and parrots. Other bird groups have more complex vocal organs and vocal repertoires.

• Parrots have tremendous ability to mimic sounds with vocal learning.
• Songbirds like lyrebirds can sing incredibly varied songs.
• Birds of prey use loud calls to communicate over distance.
• Waterfowl make loud distinctive honks and whistles.

But hummingbirds compete well acoustically by using their specialized rapid wing hum mechanism. Here’s a comparison:

The hummingbird’s characteristic wing hum and subtle squeaks are well-tuned to their tiny sizes and solitary feeding lifestyle.

Can you hear hummingbird sounds at home?

It is possible to detect the sounds of hummingbirds visiting your yard or garden, but it takes some patience and careful listening. Here are tips for picking up hummingbird sounds:

• Get very close – Move to within 2-3 feet of a hummingbird hovering or perched.
• Be quiet – Turn off any background noise and stay still.
• Use wind breaks – Block wind with structures so it doesn’t mask delicate sounds.
• Provide food – Hummers vocalize when visiting feeders as they chase each other.
• Record them – Use ultrasonic microphones to pick up high-pitched sounds.

Position yourself near hummingbird feeders or favored flowers and pay close attention. You may hear the faint hum of wings or occasional squeaky chirps as hummers communicate and compete for food.

Conclusion

While hummingbird vocalizations are simple and quiet, their signature wing hum plays an integral role in their feeding, breeding, and communication. Listening closely allows us to perceive the diverse sounds of these feathered fliers buzzing through their fast-paced lives. So take a moment to appreciate the melody produced by the rapid flutter of hummingbird wings.