Hummingbirds are well known for their ability to hover in midair and sip nectar from flowers with their long bills. But did you know that hummingbirds also regularly eat small insects for essential protein? In this article, we’ll explore how, when, and why hummingbirds catch insects on the wing.
Do hummingbirds really catch flying insects?
Yes, hummingbirds do regularly catch flying insects! While nectar makes up the majority of their diet, hummingbirds also need protein from insects to survive and thrive. Here are some key facts about hummingbirds catching insects:
- Hummingbirds get about 25-30% of their overall diet from insects and spiders.
- They are skilled aerialists and can expertly pluck tiny insects like gnats, mosquitoes, fruit flies, aphids, and spiders right out of the air.
- Their preferred insect prey are soft-bodied flying bugs that are high in protein.
- Hummingbirds catch an estimated 2,000 to 9,000 insects per day!
Research shows that without adequate protein from insects, hummingbird health declines. So their aerial insect catching skills are absolutely vital to their survival.
When do hummingbirds catch insects?
Hummingbirds catch flying insects throughout the day. Here’s an overview of when and why hummingbirds look for insect protein sources:
In the early morning
Hummingbirds need quick energy first thing in the morning, so they’ll actively hunt for fat-rich insects like ants and spiders.
During the day while feeding on nectar
Hummingbirds will opportunistically catch small insects near nectar flowers they are feeding from. This provides a protein boost alongside sugary nectar.
In the mid to late afternoon
Hummingbirds enter a hyperphagic state in the late afternoon where they actively hunt for more insects. This helps fatten them up before their overnight fast.
During migration
Protein-packed insects help fuel hummingbirds’ incredible migration journeys. They catch insects between stopping to refuel on nectar.
To feed their young
Female hummingbirds will catch thousands of insects each day to bring back to their nestlings. Baby hummingbirds need the protein and nutrients to grow and develop.
How do hummingbirds catch flying insects?
Hummingbirds have several key adaptations that allow them to expertly catch insects on the wing:
- Exceptional maneuverability – Hummingbirds can rapidly dive, climb, hover and change direction midair to pursue insects.
- Keen eyesight – They have excellent vision to spot tiny insects.
- Fast reaction time – Hummingbirds can adjust their position in less than 1/10th of a second to snatch an insect.
- Long, forked tongue – They use their long extensible tongue like a dart to catch insect prey.
Here are some techniques hummingbirds use to catch different types of insects:
For slow flying insects like mosquitoes:
- Precision hovering near the insect.
- Carefully aligning their body into attack position.
- Extending their tongue rapidly to the full length of around 5 inches.
- Impaling the insect on the sticky tip of their forked tongue.
- Retracting their tongue and swallowing the insect.
For faster flying insects like gnats:
- Burst pursuit flying to match the insect’s speed.
- Opening their mouth wide and simply engulfing the insect in their throat as they collide.
For stationary insects like spiders on a web:
- Hovering within tongue’s reach of the web.
- Extending their tongue to tap against the web near the spider.
- Entangling the spider on their sticky tongue when it moves.
- Retracting their tongue with the captured spider.
As you can see, hummingbirds have an incredible range of insect hunting skills honed by millennia of evolution!
Why do hummingbirds catch insects?
Here are the key reasons hummingbirds have adapted to catch flying insects as part of their nutritional strategy:
Protein source
Insects provide hummingbirds with essential amino acids and protein to build muscle. Without adequate protein from insects in their diet, hummingbirds would not thrive.
Metabolic fuel
The fat content in soft-bodied insects helps hummingbirds power their incredibly high metabolism and rapid wing-flapping.
Carbohydrate boost
Although not as carb-rich as nectar, insects provide hummingbirds with an extra energy kick from their carbohydrates.
Added nutrients
Insects provide extra nutrients like iron, sodium, zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins that aren’t found in nectar.
Curbing hunger
The volume of insects hummingbirds eat helps satisfy their hunger between nectar feedings.
For migration
Insect protein sustains hummingbirds on their extensive seasonal migration journeys.
To feed young
Female hummingbirds eat insects to provide their nestlings with a high-protein diet for growth and development.
In short, insects provide hummingbirds with essential dietary nutrients they can’t get from nectar alone. That’s why nearly a third of their food intake comes from these aerial acrobatic insect-catching feats!
Interesting facts about hummingbirds catching insects
Here are some fascinating facts about hummingbirds and their insect catching abilities:
- Hummingbirds can eat up to twice their body weight in insects each day.
- Their appetite for insects increases by over 400% before migration.
- Hummingbirds are able to selectively target mosquitoes that may carry harmful diseases.
- Younger hummingbirds will catch more insects than older ones.
- Hummingbird species with straight bills catch more insects than those with curved bills.
- Hummingbirds digest insects quickly, with food moving through their guts in about 20 minutes.
- Hummingbirds have been observed catching insects from spiderwebs and even stealing insects from spider’s prey!
Catching insects certainly seems to be an integral and impressive part of the hummingbird’s daily life!
Do all hummingbirds catch insects?
The vast majority of hummingbird species have been observed catching insects, but a few species get almost all their food from nectar. Here is a table summarizing insect catching behavior across common hummingbird species:
| Species | Insect Catching Behavior |
|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Actively catches insects – up to 25% of diet |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Eats more insects than any other species – up to 40% of diet |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | Moderate insect consumption – up to 20% of diet |
| Costa’s Hummingbird | Low insect intake – gets most food from nectar |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | Actively catches insects – up to 30% of diet |
As you can see, most hummingbird species regularly feast on flying insects, with the Rufous hummingbird being the most avid insect hunter. But a select few like the Costa’s hummingbird specialize in nectar feeding.
How does insect catching impact hummingbird conservation?
Here are some key ways that insect catching is relevant to hummingbird conservation:
- Preserving wildflowers provides food sources for the insects hummingbirds rely on.
- Pesticides and insect decline could impact hummingbird food availability and health.
- Climate change may affect timing of insect emergence and migration when hummingbirds need more protein.
- Hummingbird-friendly gardens can provide supplemental insect sources.
- Tracking changes in hummingbirds’ insect vs nectar intake can indicate habitat quality.
Ensuring hummingbirds have access to plentiful insect prey is therefore an important consideration for supporting stable and resilient hummingbird populations.
Actions to help hummingbirds access insects:
- Plant native wildflowers and limit pesticide use.
- Install insect hotels and bee banks.
- Avoid trimming blooms where hummingbirds forage.
- Use organic insect control methods in hummingbird gardens.
- Provide clean running water for insect drinking.
With a little habitat thoughtfulness, we can help provide the insects hummingbirds need to thrive.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are amazing aerialists that expertly catch insects to meet their nutritional needs. While nectar makes up the bulk of their diet, they also rely on protein, fat, and other nutrients from insects. They can precisely maneuver midair and snatch thousands of tiny insects each day with their forked tongue. Ensuring healthy insect populations will be key for the future conservation of these captivating creatures.
