Hummingbirds are solitary creatures that do not form lasting bonds or live together in groups. They are territorial and will aggressively defend their feeding areas from other hummingbirds. However, there are some exceptions where hummingbirds may be seen in larger numbers together briefly.
Do hummingbirds nest together?
No, hummingbirds do not nest together. Each female hummingbird builds her own tiny cup-shaped nest out of soft plant fibers, spider webs, and moss. She lines the inside with soft plant down and animal hair. The nest is only about 2 inches wide and 1 inch deep – just large enough for her to perch while incubating the eggs. She will lay 2 tiny white eggs in the nest, usually on consecutive days. She incubates the eggs alone for about 2-3 weeks until they hatch.
Do male and female hummingbirds stay together?
No, male and female hummingbirds do not form lasting pair bonds and the male does not assist with incubating eggs or raising young. Here is the typical mating behavior:
- The male will establish and aggressively defend a feeding territory that overlaps with one or more females.
- When a female enters his territory, the male will perform elaborate courtship displays to catch her attention, including aerial maneuvers and dive displays.
- If receptive, the female will allow the male to mate with her briefly before she builds her solitary nest and lays her eggs alone.
- The male provides no parental care and continues defending his territory to mate with other females.
- The female raises the chicks completely alone until they fledge in about 3 weeks.
So while brief mating occurs, hummingbirds do not maintain lasting bonds or share in parental duties.
Do hummingbirds migrate together?
Most hummingbirds migrate individually and not in coordinated groups. However, some interesting migration behaviors have been observed:
- In areas where large populations migrate, many individuals may pass together forming light migratory movements.
- Migrating hummingbirds will congregate in large numbers at food-rich stopover sites to rest and refuel, such as flowering meadows.
- Younger hummingbirds may follow adult hummingbirds who have migrated before and “learn” the routes.
So while not flying together in coordinated flocks, many hummingbirds may converge along migration pathways and stopover sites during migration seasons resulting in temporary gatherings.
Do hummingbirds gather at feeders?
Yes, one of the few times hummingbirds will tolerate each other briefly is when defending a food resource. At backyard feeders, up to a dozen hummingbirds may feed peacefully together if there are enough feeding ports or sufficient nectar flow. However, they will chase each other aggressively to defend access once it is limited.
Hummingbirds establish a distinct hierarchy at feeders based on age, sex and aggression. Dominant males occupy the top perches while juveniles and females feed from lower perches. But if food is plentiful, they share the space briefly.
How do hummingbirds interact at flowers?
At natural flowers, hummingbirds will aggressively defend nectar resources against intruders. A dominant male will patrol his flower territory, chasing off other males or females that attempt to feed there. Females may briefly feed together at large flowers if nectar flow is abundant.
Interestingly, some species like the Ruby-throated hummingbird have been observed partaking in flower switching. In this behavior, the defending hummingbird will tolerate brief feeding by intruders and switch flowers with them rather than expending energy chasing them away.
Do hummingbirds sleep together?
No, hummingbirds do not huddle together to sleep communally. At night, hummingbirds enter a deep sleep state called torpor which lowers their metabolic rate and body temperature to conserve energy. Here is how they sleep:
- Each hummingbird will find a solitary roosting spot in a protected area out of the wind such as a tree cavity or dense vegetation.
- The hummingbird grasps onto a perch using specially adapted feet that can tightly grip. This allows it to sleep perched vertically.
- The hummingbird puffs out its feathers to trap body heat and drops its body temperature significantly, entering deep torpor.
- If the weather is extremely cold, the hummingbird may become dormant for longer periods to conserve energy.
So hummingbirds do not actually sleep together for warmth or protection. Their ability to lower body temperature and metabolism allows each one to sleep alone safely.
Are there any species of hummingbirds that live colonially?
No, there are no known species of hummingbirds that nest or live together colonially. All 331 currently recognized hummingbird species are solitary in their behavior outside of brief territorial interactions and mating. The only exceptions seen are temporary aggregations during migrations and at prime feeding sites.
Even the Bee Hummingbird, the smallest hummingbird species measuring just 2 inches long, displays typical solitary behavior. Males establish tiny territories only about 12 feet across that they aggressively defend from others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hummingbirds are generally solitary creatures despite their small size. They each build separate nests, mate briefly, and aggressively defend individual feeding territories against other hummingbirds. The only times they tolerate each other are during migrations or at abundant food sources. They neither live together in groups, nor provide parental care to each other. So while charming to watch visit feeders, hummingbirds lead predominantly solitary lives.
