The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most common and widely distributed hummingbird species in eastern North America. The males are known for their vibrant red throats, which they display during courtship. But what about their role in nesting and raising young? Here we’ll explore whether male ruby-throats participate in incubating eggs.
Quick Answer
Male ruby-throated hummingbirds do not sit on eggs or participate in incubation. Only the female builds the nest, incubates the eggs, and cares for the hatchlings. The male’s role is limited to courtship and mating.
Do Male Hummingbirds Help Build Nests?
Nest building is solely the responsibility of the female ruby-throated hummingbird. Males do not assist with gathering nest materials or construction.
The female hummingbird selects a site and uses spider silk and lichen to affix the nest to a downward sloping branch. She then collects soft plant down, bud scales, and moss to shape the inner cup. The tiny nest measures only about 1.5 inches across and blends in well camouflaged against branches.
| Nest Building Facts | Ruby-Throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|
| Who Builds the Nest | Female Only |
| Nest Materials | Spider Silk, Lichen, Plant Down, Bud Scales, Moss |
| Nest Size | 1.5 inches across |
| Placement | On downward sloping branch |
Males do not contribute at all to nest construction. Their role in breeding is restricted to courtship displays and mating.
Do Male Hummingbirds Incubate Eggs?
Incubation duty also falls solely on the female hummingbird. After mating, she lays two pea-sized white eggs. She alone keeps the eggs warm, only leaving the nest for brief periods to forage.
The female ruby-throat closely regulates the temperature and humidity inside the nest, often using her feathered body as insulation. The incubation period lasts about 14-15 days before the eggs are ready to hatch.
Throughout incubation the male is not involved in warming the eggs. His reproductive efforts end after copulation and he provides no parental care.
Summary of Hummingbird Egg Incubation
- Female lays 2 white eggs
- Female alone incubates eggs for 14-15 days
- Male does not participate in incubation
- Female regulates temperature and humidity
- Female leaves nest briefly to forage
The female ruby-throated hummingbird is solely responsible for creating the right conditions inside the nest to incubate the eggs. Males do not sit on the eggs or assist with this parental duty in any way.
Do Male Hummingbirds Help Feed Hatchlings?
Newly hatched hummingbirds require constant care and feeding. Again, it is the female’s role to nurture the chicks without any male assistance.
For up to 3 weeks after hatching, the tiny hummingbirds cannot regulate their own body temperature. The female continues to brood her babies, keeping them warm beneath her body and wings. She also hand-feeds them regurgitated nectar and insects.
Male ruby-throats provide no food or care for hatchlings. In fact, the males leave the breeding grounds altogether and begin migrating south weeks before the young fledge from the nest.
Caring for Hummingbird Chicks
| Parental Duty | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Keeps Chicks Warm | Yes | No |
| Hand-Feeds Nectar/Insects | Yes | No |
| Stays Near Nest | Yes | No – Leaves Breeding Grounds |
From incubation through fledging, the female hummingbird performs all parental care without any male assistance. Hummingbird dads do not participate at all in raising offspring.
Why Don’t Male Hummingbirds Share Parenting Duties?
It may seem surprising that male hummingbirds have no role in nesting, incubating, or raising young. However, this lack of paternal care is typical among bird species. Here are some reasons why hummingbird fathers do not share parenting responsibilities:
Energy Conservation
Incubation and feeding hatchlings requires a huge expenditure of energy for a tiny bird. Performing these duties could significantly drain a male’s energy reserves needed for his survival. By leaving child-rearing to the female, males conserve energy for competition and future mating opportunities.
Reduced Genetic Investment
Males invest less genetically in each offspring compared to females. Females carry the developing young inside their bodies. This higher maternal genetic investment may explain why female hummingbirds alone take on the risks and efforts of child-rearing.
Shorter Lifespan
Male ruby-throats have shorter average lifespans than females, living only about 3-4 years compared to an average 5-6 years for females. With less time to reproduce, it may benefit males more to focus efforts on courtship mating displays rather than parenting.
Polygamy
Male hummingbirds are polygamous, mating with multiple females each season. Parenting duties would reduce a male’s ability to seek other mates. Their reproductive strategy centers on increasing mating opportunities rather than supporting offspring.
In short, the high energy demands, low genetic investment, short lifespan, and polygamous mating strategy of male hummingbirds explain why parenting duties are left to the female alone.
Do Other Hummingbird Species Share Incubation?
Nearly all hummingbird species follow a similar pattern – only females incubate eggs and care for the young. For example:
- Anna’s hummingbird – females alone incubate eggs and feed nestlings
- Black-chinned hummingbird – females solely responsible for nesting and rearing chicks
- Calliope hummingbird – females alone perform all parental duties
- Rufous hummingbird – males do not participate in incubation or caring for hatchlings
However, there is one exception. In the case of the bee hummingbird, the world’s smallest bird, males assist the female by feeding hatchlings. But the female bee hummingbird still performs all incubation duties.
Parenting without male assistance is the norm across all hummingbird species. Other than some hatchling feeding by male bee hummingbirds, hummingbird dads do not share the responsibilities of nesting, incubating, or rearing young.
Conclusion
Male ruby-throated hummingbirds play no role in nesting, incubating eggs, or raising hatchlings. Parental care falls solely on the female. While the vibrant red throats of males serve to attract mates, they provide no value in terms of parenting. From constructing the tiny nest to feeding newly hatched chicks, female hummingbirds carry out these extensive duties completely alone. Although uncommon in the animal kingdom, a lack of male parental investment occurs across hummingbird species, and male ruby-throats follow this pattern.
