Do crows attack hummingbirds?

Crows and hummingbirds inhabit many of the same environments and it is not uncommon to see them interacting. This sometimes leads people to wonder if crows actually attack and prey on hummingbirds. The quick answer is that while crows are omnivorous birds that will eat small animals, they do not typically hunt or attack hummingbirds. There are a few reasons for this:

• Size difference – Hummingbirds are very small, usually weighing 2-20 grams. Crows are much larger, weighing around 300-600 grams. Crows prefer to eat larger prey items like mice, eggs, nestlings, and invertebrates.
• Speed and agility – Hummingbirds can fly very fast, with wingbeat rates up to 80 beats per second. They are extremely agile and able to rapidly change direction. This makes them difficult for crows to catch.
• Low calorie nutritional value – The tiny bodies of hummingbirds provide very little meat or calories compared to larger prey. It would not be worth the energy expenditure for crows to hunt them.

So while crows do sometimes interact with hummingbirds, especially around food sources, they do not actively prey on them. Now let’s go into more detail on crow and hummingbird interactions.

Typical Interactions Between Crows and Hummingbirds

Crows and hummingbirds co-occur in many habitats, including forests, parks, gardens, and backyards. Here are some of the most common ways they interact:

• Feeders – Both species are attracted to sugar water feeders, particularly in backyard settings. Crows may scare hummingbirds away from feeders so they can access the sugar water. Hummingbirds will wait nearby for crows to leave.
• Flower patches – Crows and hummingbirds forage on many of the same flowers for nectar. Crows are generally more dominant and may displace hummingbirds at particularly productive patches.
• Bathing – Crows and hummingbirds both bathe to keep their feathers in good condition. They may share bird baths or other small water sources.
• Nesting – If crow and hummingbird nests are in close proximity, crows may harass hummingbirds that get too close to the crow nest. But they will not directly predate hummingbird nests.
• Mobbing – Hummingbirds may join other small birds like chickadees in mobbing or harassing a crow if it comes close to a nest.

These types of interactions can appear aggressive, but crows do not directly attack or eat hummingbirds. The aggression is meant to secure an important food resource or protect eggs and nestlings rather than to hunt hummingbirds. Next, we’ll look at some specific cases where crows may threaten hummingbird safety.

When Are Hummingbirds in Danger from Crows?

While crows do not normally attack hummingbirds, there are some specific situations where hummingbirds may be in danger:

• Nestlings – Baby birds that cannot fly are at risk from crows. A crow may opportunistically raid a hummingbird nest and eat nestlings and eggs. This is rare but has been documented.
• Injured adults – If an adult hummingbird is injured and unable to fly away rapidly, a crow may prey on it. But healthy adult hummingbirds are not at risk.
• Attractants – Trash or food waste that attracts crows can also attract hummingbirds. When in close proximity, crows may become territorial. Keep attractants secure.
• Nest protection – Crows are highly defensive of their own nests and may attack any intruders. Hummingbirds should keep distance from active crow nests.

The best way to protect hummingbirds from potential harm is to not provide food or nesting sites close to regular crow activity. Minimizing attractants and garbage can also help. Next, we’ll go over some amazing facts about how hummingbirds avoid predation from crows and other predators.

How Hummingbirds Avoid Predators Like Crows

Hummingbirds have evolved some astounding adaptations and behaviors to avoid predation given their extremely small size:

• Speed – Hummingbirds are the fastest birds relative to body size. They can accelerate and change direction rapidly, making them hard to catch.
• Agility – Their flight abilities allow hummingbirds to get nectar from flowers in all directions and orientations.
• Camouflage – Males have iridescent plumage that flashes different colors as they move, making it hard for predators to track them.
• Nests – Female hummingbirds use spider webs and lichen to camouflage their tiny nests high up in trees away from predators.
• Distraction displays – If a predator does get close to a nest, the mother may perform distraction displays to draw the predator away.

Here is an amazing fact – a hummingbird’s heart beats up to 1,260 beats per minute while flying. This allows the rapid energetic output needed to accelerate and evade predators. Their minute size, camouflage, and agility make them challenging prey for larger birds like crows.

Crow Hunting and Foraging Behaviors

To better understand why crows do not typically hunt hummingbirds, let’s take a closer look at the hunting strategies and prey preferences of crows:

• Opportunists – Crows are omnivorous opportunistic foragers. They eat whatever prey is abundantly available.
• Preferred prey – The bulk of a crow’s diet consists of insects, spiders, snails, eggs, nestlings, fledglings, seeds, fruit, nuts, corn, and human food waste.
• Hunting – Crows employ patience and intelligence when hunting. They perch and watch for prey movements and opportunities.
• Tools – Crows will use tools to reach food sources, like poking sticks into holes to extract insects.
• Mobbing – Crows may work together to mob larger animals and distract them to steal food or reach nestlings.

Based on their typical hunting behaviors, hummingbirds are simply not profitable or worthwhile prey compared to other food sources. Crows prefer larger, slower, more abundant prey. Next we’ll look at whether crows impact hummingbird populations.

Impact of Crows on Hummingbird Populations

Several research studies have looked at the effects of crow populations on hummingbirds numbers and nesting success:

• No population declines – Areas with abundant crow populations do not show declines in hummingbird numbers or diminished nesting success rates.
• Crows eat invasive bees – One study found crows reduce populations of invasive Brazilian honey bees near hummingbird nests, possibly benefitting the hummingbirds.
• Compatible coexistence – Crows and hummingbirds peacefully coexist in most habitats, despite minor aggressive interactions at feeders or flowers.
• Nest placement – Hummingbirds nest high up with good cover, reducing their vulnerability. Most predation is by specialized climbers like squirrels and snakes.

Research to date indicates crows do not significantly threaten hummingbird populations or reproductive success. Other predators like jays, roadrunners, and shrikes are likely more significant predators of hummingbirds. Next we’ll compare the sizes, physiology, and nesting behaviors of crows versus hummingbirds.

Size and Physiology Comparison

Crows are significantly larger and differently adapted than hummingbirds, which explains their lack of predation:

As the table shows, crows are much larger in size and generalist predators. Hummingbirds are tiny, fast, adapted to flower feeding, and nest in concealed locations ideal for avoiding larger predators like crows. This physical mismatch makes hummingbirds low-reward and difficult prey for crows.

Backyard Feeders and Prevention Tips

While crows and hummingbirds normally coexist without issue, minor conflicts can arise in backyard feeding situations. Here are some tips to minimize problems:

• Separate feeders – Provide crows and hummingbirds separate dedicated feeders at a distance from each other.
• Exclude perches – Eliminate branches or perches above hummingbird feeders where crows can wait.
• Use feeder guards – Place feeders closer to your home and use wire cages or other deterrents to limit crow access.
• Clean up fallen nectar – Crows are attracted to sticky fallen nectar below feeders. Keep the area clean.
• Remove night feeders – Take in hummingbird feeders at night when crows are more likely to visit them.

With some adjustments, you can meet the feeding needs of both crows and hummingbirds in your yard safely. The most effective approach is providing multiple separated feeders and actively monitoring them when both species are present.

Conclusion

In summary, while crows and hummingbirds co-occur in many habitats, predation of hummingbirds by crows is extremely uncommon. Some key points:

• Crows do not regularly or deliberately hunt hummingbirds due to the size and speed differences between the species.
• Rare instances of predation may involve injured adults, undefended nests, or incidents near food attractants.
• Research shows no population declines in hummingbirds related to crow populations or interactions between the species.
• Providing separate feeders and nesting sites can minimize conflict in backyard settings when both species are present.
• Understanding the evolutionary mismatches between crows and hummingbirds explains why coexistence is the norm in nature.

So while crows sometimes hassle hummingbirds over food resources, outright attacks or predation events are extremely uncommon. Both unique species can be promoted in shared environments with some thoughtful wildlife management practices.