Do hummingbirds lay eggs in a nest?

Yes, hummingbirds do lay eggs in nests. Hummingbird nests provide a safe place for the female hummingbird to lay her eggs and raise her young.

Hummingbird Nesting

Hummingbirds are small birds found throughout North and South America. There are over 300 different species of hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are known for their ability to hover in midair and fly backwards as well as their fast wing beats and specialized beaks that allow them to feed on flower nectar.

Hummingbirds build nests for laying and incubating eggs and raising young. The nests provide protection and insulation for the eggs and chicks. Female hummingbirds are solely responsible for nest building and caring for the young.

Hummingbird nests are tiny, only 2-5 cm across and 2-10 cm deep. They are made of soft plant and spider silk materials secured together with strands of spiderweb. Common nesting materials include plant down, moss, lichens, feathers, buds, bark shavings, and soft leaves. The exterior of the nest is often camouflaged with bits of lichen or moss.

Hummingbird nests are constructed on top of branches of trees, shrubs, cacti, or other sturdy vegetation. They may be attached to forks in branches, hanging off shoots, or built alongside logs and poles. Hummingbirds often reuse and repair old nests rather than building new ones.

Egg Laying and Incubation

After building her nest, the female hummingbird lays two pea-sized eggs inside, usually on consecutive days. The eggs are plain white without speckles or markings. She incubates the eggs for 14 to 23 days until they hatch.

During incubation, the female hummingbird sits on the nest for long periods, only leaving briefly to eat and gather more nesting material. While incubating, the female plucks down feathers from her belly to line the nest and help insulate the eggs.

Hummingbird eggs need to be kept at a constant warm temperature for development. If the eggs get chilled, development stops or the eggs may not be viable. The female hummingbird uses her body heat to keep the eggs warm while she patiently incubates them.

Raising the Young

Once the eggs hatch, both male and female hummingbirds participate in raising the chicks by providing food. The chicks are blind, naked, and completely helpless at hatching. They rely on their parents to feed them.

The parents gather small insects and nectar to feed the chicks. They are able to recognition their own chicks in the nest by color patterns on the chicks’ bills. The parents perch on the edge of the nest to feed the chicks by inserting their long bills into the chicks’ mouths to regurgitate food.

For the first week, the female broods the chicks to keep them warm. After a week, she begins to spend more time away from the nest foraging for food. The chicks grow flight feathers in 2 to 4 weeks. Once they can fly and feed themselves, the young hummingbirds leave the nest.

Unique Adaptations

Hummingbirds have several unique adaptations related to nesting and reproduction:

• High metabolism – A high metabolic rate provides energy for the constant hovering and feeding necessary to raise young.
• Incubation patches – Some species develop special “incubation patches” of missing feathers to transfer heat more efficiently to eggs.
• Reversed sexual size dimorphism – Females tend to be larger than males, allowing them to better construct nests and incubate eggs.
• Specially adapted feet – Hummingbirds have feet well adapted for perching on nests and branches.

Potential Threats to Nesting

Hummingbird nests face threats from both natural elements and human activity. Potential threats include:

• Severe weather – High winds, rain, hail, or extreme heat can damage nests and eggs.
• Predators – Some predators like jays, squirrels, and snakes may eat eggs and chicks.
• Parasites – Mites or botfly larvae can infest nests.
• Habitat loss – Logging, fires, or land clearing destroys nesting sites.
• Pesticides – Chemicals sprayed on plants can sicken or kill hummingbirds.
• Climate change – Altering blooming seasons disrupts timing of migration and breeding.

Hummingbirds may abandon nests, build new ones, or lay again if eggs or chicks are lost early in breeding season. But late season disturbances can prevent successful breeding for the year.

Conclusion

In summary, yes, hummingbirds lay their small, plain white eggs inside the tiny cup-shaped nests that the females build. The female incubates the eggs for 2-3 weeks until they hatch. Both parents work together to gather food and feed the chicks for 2-4 weeks until the young birds can fly and feed themselves. The nest provides a safe, protected place for hummingbirds to lay their eggs, incubate, and raise chicks through the vulnerable early stages of life.

Here is a summary in a table of key information on hummingbird nesting and eggs: