Hummingbirds are beautiful, delicate creatures that have captivated people for centuries. Their iridescent feathers shimmer in the sunlight, and their ability to hover and fly backwards sets them apart from other birds. It’s no wonder that many people fantasize about keeping hummingbirds as pets. But is it feasible or ethical to keep them as pets?
Legalities of Keeping Hummingbirds as Pets
In the United States, it is illegal to keep native hummingbird species as pets under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This act makes it unlawful to possess any migratory bird or their parts (feathers, nests, eggs) without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fines for violating the MBTA can be upwards of $15,000 per bird. Only licensed zoos, aquariums, bird sanctuaries, and rehabilitators can legally house hummingbirds. People who rescue sick or injured hummingbirds are required to turn them over to licensed rehabilitators as soon as possible. The only exception that allows private citizens to care for hummingbirds temporarily is if they are transporting an injured bird to a rehabilitation facility.
That said, it is legal to keep non-native hummingbird species, such as the green-breasted mango, as pets. However, many experts argue that we have an ethical obligation to let wild birds remain wild, even if they are not native to your country. We’ll explore the ethics more later.
Natural Habits and Preferences of Hummingbirds
Here are some key facts about the natural behaviors and needs of hummingbirds that illustrate why they are ill-suited to life as pets:
- Hummingbirds are territorial – they prefer to live alone and will fight other hummingbirds that encroach on their domain.
- They have very specialized diets consisting of nectar and tiny insects.
- They eat constantly due to their extremely high metabolisms – up to every 10-15 minutes during the day.
- Hummingbirds spend the majority of their time flying and foraging. In a cage, their primary activity (flying) would be severely limited.
- They have fragile bones and delicate feathers not suited to confinement.
- In the wild, they generally live 3-5 years. In captivity, they seldom survive more than 1-2 years.
- Hummingbirds are migratory and travel long distances. In captivity, their migratory instincts would be unfulfilled.
Given the territorial, energetic nature of hummingbirds that motivates them to constantly forage and fly, they do not adapt well to confined spaces. Avian experts agree that a caged existence goes entirely against their natural behaviors and needs.
Ethical Concerns of Keeping Hummingbirds
Here are some reasons why keeping hummingbirds as pets raises ethical concerns, even if it is legal:
- Hummingbirds have specialized nutritional needs that are challenging to meet in captivity. They need constant access to fresh nectar and tiny insects, which may be difficult for an owner to regularly provide.
- Their small size and fragile bones make them prone to injury in confined spaces. Cages pose hazards such as collisions with the sides of the cage and overgrown nails.
- Lack of flight space is detrimental. One study showed that hummingbirds kept in small cages had atrophied flight muscles within 12 weeks.
- Migratory hummingbirds will attempt to escape when their seasonal instincts kick in, often injuring themselves in the process.
- Stress behaviors like frantic fluttering and repeated collision with cage sides and windows are common as they attempt to escape.
- Solitary housing goes against their natural social dynamics. They may be deprived of important social behaviors.
- Captive hummingbirds seldom survive more than 1-2 years due to chronic stress and dietary issues. Their lifespan is reduced by 75% or more compared to wild hummingbirds.
- Even captive-bred hummingbirds retain their wild instincts. Experts argue they are not truly domesticated and suffer in confinement.
In summary, keeping hummingbirds in captivity imposes significant stress, denies their natural behaviors, and often results in a short life span riddled with health issues. This contradicts the principle that pets should have a reasonably high quality of life maintained over a normal lifespan.
Housing Requirements
If someone were to legally keep a non-native hummingbird as a pet, an extraordinarily large, enriched habitat would be required in order to meet the bird’s needs. Here are some minimum standards:
- An indoor aviary or screened porch spanning the length of a room, minimum dimensions of 6 feet by 6 feet by 8 feet.
- Access to unobstructed flight space with perches placed at varying heights.
- Outdoor access to a very large screened enclosure for several hours a day, weather permitting. Minimum dimensions of 8 feet x 20 feet.
- Tropical temperatures maintained between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The aviary designed with aspects of the rainforest, including vegetation, running waterfalls, and mister systems.
- A varied diet of specialized nectar mixes and insects gathered daily.
- Avariety of nectar feeders placed throughout the aviary and cleaned/disinfected twice daily.
- Tree branches, ropes, and other perching surfaces switched out weekly to maintain hygiene.
As you can see, a massive amount of space, time, money, and effort would be required to meet the complex needs of a hummingbird. The costs of properly housing a hummingbird could run into the thousands of dollars. This rules out captivity for all but the most devoted enthusiasts with ample resources.
Companionship and Interaction
Hummingbirds are solitary animals that do not desire social interaction and companionship in the same way mammals and other bird species do. They are not social animals that bond with human caretakers. Several factors make hummingbirds poor candidates for pets from a companionship perspective:
- They are territorial and aggressive towards other hummingbirds, so housing them together is not feasible.
- Hummingbirds display no trainable behaviors that allow them to interact with people.
- They do not enjoy being touched or handled due to their fragile bodies.
- Their primary focus is finding food, not relating to humans or other animals.
- They are prey animals by nature and very fearful of people. Taming them is extremely difficult.
- Abundant food sources in the aviary decrease motivation to interact with caretakers.
- As solitary creatures, one hummingbird alone cannot meet social interaction needs.
While watching their beauty, aerial displays, and curious hovering can be intriguing, hummingbirds do not make engaging, interactive pets. Their wild instincts remain unchanged by human interaction. If you desire a pet bird to bond with, species like parrots, cockatiels and parakeets are more suitable.
Finding a Hummingbird from a Legal Source
In the U.S., native hummingbirds cannot be acquired or purchased. However, a few specialty breeders offer captive-bred non-native species obtained from legal sources outside the U.S. Prices range from $100-$300 per bird. Species may include:
- Green-breasted mango
- Black-chinned hummingbird
- Violet-tailed sylph
- Violet-capped hummingbird
No reputable aviculturists will ship hummingbirds, so pick-up would be required. Health certificates and documentation proving legal sourcing are mandatory. Joining aviculture societies and networking can help you find breeders. Be prepared to undergo extensive interviewing to prove your commitment to meeting the bird’s demanding care requirements before a breeder will sell you a hummingbird.
If purchasing outside the country, be sure to clarify importation laws and obtain any necessary permits before attempting to bring a hummingbird into your country. Importing wildlife always poses disease risks, so most countries regulate this strictly.
Alternatives to Keeping Hummingbirds as Pets
Here are some great alternatives if you’d like to attract hummingbirds to observe and enjoy them without keeping them captive:
- Plant a habitat-friendly garden using native plants that hummingbirds are attracted to.
- Install specialized hummingbird feeders and nectar mixes to supplement their diet.
- Provide a water feature or mister system to create bathing and drinking spots.
- Sit quietly to observe their behaviors – photography blinds work great.
- Record them with a high speed/HD camera to capture all their maneuvers in slow motion.
- Volunteer at a hummingbird rehabilitation and education center.
- Join a hummingbird banding project to learn about migration and population trends.
With a welcoming environment and patience, you can have hummingbirds visit your yard regularly without removing them from the wild. This provides great enjoyment and fosters an appreciation for their beauty and place in nature.
Conclusion
While their dazzling beauty and aerial skills are mesmerizing, hummingbirds have extensive specialized needs that make them challenging and unethical to keep as pets. Their wild instincts cannot be domesticated so that they thrive in captivity. Due to territorial behavior, they must be housed alone in an aviary-like environment demanding extensive time, space, money and dedication to maintain. Legal restrictions may prevent acquiring native species. For non-native birds, sourcing from legal breeders is vital. Ultimately, providing food and habitat in your garden to attract wild hummingbirds is a better option than confining them. Their remarkable abilities are meant to be appreciated as they flutter freely in nature.
