Hummingbirds are beautiful, fascinating creatures that many homeowners wish to attract to their yards. While hummingbirds will visit yards with feeders, getting them to build nests and raise their young requires providing the right habitat. By understanding what hummingbirds need for nesting and implementing some simple techniques, you can turn your yard into a hummingbird nursery.
Why Do Hummingbirds Nest Near Homes?
Hummingbirds build nests in yards for a few key reasons:
- Access to food – Hummingbird feeders provide a reliable source of nectar.
- Shelter – Trees, shrubs, and structures offer protection from weather and predators.
- Preferred materials – Many ornamental and native plants provide the softfibers hummingbirds use to construct nests.
By landscaping with hummingbird priorities in mind, you can make your yard as appealing as possible for nesting.
When Do Hummingbirds Nest?
Most hummingbirds in the United States and Canada nest between March and July. However, the exact nesting period varies by species:
| Species | Nesting Season |
|---|---|
| Anna’s Hummingbird | December-June |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | April-July |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | May-July |
| Calliope Hummingbird | May-July |
| Rufous Hummingbird | March-July |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | April-June |
To attract the widest range of species, have your yard hummingbird-ready by early spring. Maintaining habitat through summer will accommodate late-nesting individuals.
What Do Hummingbirds Need in a Nesting Site?
Hummingbirds have four major requirements when choosing a nest location:
- Nesting Materials – Hummingbirds use soft plant down, spider webs, moss, and lichens to build nests.
- Shelter – Nests must be protected from weather and predators, often in trees or shrubs.
- Insects – An abundant supply of small insects is needed to feed the young.
- Nectar Sources – Flowers provide energy for the female as she incubates eggs and feeds nestlings.
By meeting these nesting needs, you can convert your yard into ideal hummingbird real estate.
How to Attract Nesting Hummingbirds
Here are some proven methods to make your yard attractive for nesting hummingbirds:
Provide Nesting Materials
Hummingbirds gather soft plant down, spider silk, lichens, and mosses to build cushiony, stretchy nests. Here are sources to provide:
- Cottonwood, cattail, thistle, and dandelion down
- Willow, aspen, and birch catkins
- Milkweed and fireweed pappus
- Spider webs
- Spanish moss or sphagnum moss
- Usnea lichens
Leave these materials in your yard or lightly stuff them in Mesh onion bags near nest sites.
Plant Sheltering Trees and Shrubs
Hummingbirds nest in trees and shrubs 10-20 feet above ground. Ideal nest sites include:
- Garden corners and edges
- Branches overhanging porches and patios
- Trees and shrubs near feeders
Some excellent nesting plants include:
| Trees | Shrubs |
|---|---|
|
|
Choose native varieties whenever possible. Trim back branches and leaves around nests to improve visibility.
Provide a Water Feature
Dripping misters, fountains, ponds, and birdbaths attract insects that hummingbirds eat. The moving water also gives hummingbirds a drinking and bathing source. Ensure the water feature has a shallow section for safety.
Plant Nectar Flowers
Flowers provide essential energy for nesting hummingbirds. Plant clusters of tubular blooms in red, orange, pink, or purple:
- Native columbines, honeysuckles, and trumpet vines
- Fuchsias
- Coral bells
- Bee balms
- Sages
Select a mix of flowering seasons for a constant nectar supply. Deadhead spent blooms to promote new flowers.
Set Out Feeders
While flowers should provide ample nectar, maintaining several hummingbird feeders ensures pairing and nesting birds have plenty of fuel. Use a nectar mix of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Avoid food coloring, and clean feeders weekly.
Provide Insect Food Sources
Hummingbird chicks need a huge amount of small insects, such as fruit flies, midges, whiteflies, gnats, aphids, leafhoppers, and spiders. Draw insects naturally with:
- Flower gardens
- Fruiting trees and shrubs
- Vegetable plots and herb beds
- Leaf litter and mulch
Avoid pesticides, which reduce insect availability. You can also buy freeze-dried insects to sprinkle around nests.
Set Out String Lights
Hummingbirds like to gather silk from string lights to weave into their nests. Hang incandescent or LED lights along porches, trees, and shrubs. Ensure lights won’t overheat nearby nest material.
Provide Nesting Platforms
You can buy or make wooden hummingbird nesting shelves to mount on posts or under eaves. Ensure they are sturdy and won’t sag over time by supporting the bottom. Face away from prevailing winds and rain.
Let Natural Debris Accumulate
Leaving dead leaves, small twigs, and plant stems in garden beds gives hummingbirds nest materials. Just ensure the debris pile won’t harbor pests or diseases.
Use Chemical-Free Landscaping
Pesticides and herbicides can leach into nectar and be toxic to hummingbirds. Eliminate chemical use, especially near hummingbird nesting and foraging areas.
Where Exactly Do Hummingbirds Nest?
Here are the top hummingbird nest locations in yards:
- On branches up to 15 feet high, often right above feeders
- In the forks and intersections of small branches
- In sheltered spots under overhangs and porches
- On top of porch lights, wreaths, wind chimes, and outdoor ceiling fans
- Among climbing vines, tree clusters, and dense vegetation
Check for nests each year before trimming trees and bushes or turning on sprinklers. Finding an active nest will tell you hummingbirds have fully embraced your habitat.
Identifying Hummingbird Nests
Hummingbird nests are tiny architectural marvels. Here’s how to spot them:
- Nest is 1-2 inches wide, matching the female hummingbird’s body
- Tiny moss, lichen, down, and plant fibers are expertly woven together
- The outside is camouflaged with lichens and bound with spider silk
- Inside contains a soft down lining
- Nest often has decorative bits of leaf, petals, wood, or paper
Don’t worry if a nest is hard to find. Sitting still and watching hummingbird behavior will reveal locations.
When Do Hummingbird Chicks Leave the Nest?
Hummingbird chicks develop incredibly fast. Here’s a typical timeline:
- Days 1-3 – Eggs hatch
- Day 7 – Eyes open and feathers emerge
- Day 14 – Nestlings nearly full size
- Day 18-22 – Chicks fledge from nest
The speedy development means a nest is only active for about a month. Don’t worry about disturbing fledglings learning to fly – the parents continue care.
Can I Move a Hummingbird Nest?
It’s best not to move or interfere with an active hummingbird nest. However, if necessary, here are some tips:
- Wait until the nest is empty before moving. Never handle eggs or chicks.
- Move the nest less than 10 feet to stay in the parents’ territory.
- Attach the nest securely in the new spot with wire, tape, or staples.
- Move at night when the female is off the nest.
- Provide a direct clear flight path from old to new home.
Have replacement habitat ready so birds can quickly rebuild. Grouping nests together may improve acceptance of the new area.
Common Problems with Hummingbird Nests
Here are some issues that may arise with hummingbird nests:
Predators
Squirrels, jays, and snakes raid nests for eggs and chicks. Discourage climbable vegetation onto the nest. Set out decoy predators like plastic owls.
Weather
Storms can blow nests out of trees before eggs hatch. Provide sheltered spots and away from tops of slender trees that sway.
Bee Stings
Bees often nest in old hummingbird homes. Watch for bee traffic, and remove unused nests each fall.
Abandonment
Humans, pets, other birds like jays and sparrows can disturb nests, causing abandonment. Limit activity near nests.
Falling Off Porches
Wind or water can dislodge porch nests. Ensure nests stuck firmly to ceiling fans, lights, and rails.
Conclusion
By understanding hummingbird nesting habits and catering to their needs, you can have the joy of these tiny birds raising young right outside your door. A few adjustments to make your yard inviting, along with patience for the birds to find the habitat, will set the stage for successful hummingbird nesting. Enjoy observing the progress of nests and fledglings each season as your yard gains a reputation as an oasis for hummingbirds.
