Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that captivate us with their beauty and aerobatic skills. These tiny birds build intricate nests to lay their even tinier eggs in. However, there are times when a hummingbird may abandon its nest before the eggs hatch or the chicks fledge.
Knowing whether a hummingbird has deserted its nest can be useful for several reasons. You may want to remove an abandoned nest to open up a space for hummingbirds to build again. Identifying an abandoned nest can also help track hummingbird populations and behaviors in your area over time. Here is a guide on how to tell if hummingbirds have left their nest for good.
Look for signs of activity
The easiest way to know if hummingbirds are still using a nest is to watch for activity. Sit quietly near the nest for 30 minutes or longer and observe. An active nest will have adult hummingbirds coming and going to incubate eggs or feed hatchlings. You should see a hummingbird visiting the nest at least every 5-15 minutes in most cases. If no hummingbird visits within 30 minutes or more, chances are the nest has been abandoned.
Watch the nest
Set up a spotting scope or binoculars to keep an eye on the nest from a distance. This allows you to monitor activity without disturbing the hummingbirds. Make note of when adults visit the nest, how long they stay, and what they are doing. Are they sitting in the nest incubating? Or are they quickly dropping by to feed babies? This helps confirm if the nest is still actively being used versus deserted.
Listen for sounds
Use your ears in addition to your eyes when observing nest activity. Active nests will produce sounds. Adults make chirping noises when feeding nestlings. Hungry baby birds peep and squeak loudly between feedings. You may even hear the hummingbird’s fast wings beating as they fly in and out of the nest. The absence of any sounds coming from the nest is a sign it may be empty.
Check the condition of the nest
Abandoned hummingbird nests will start to degrade over time without the adult birds maintaining them. Look closely at the overall structure and placement of the nest. An intact, undisturbed nest cupped securely in a tree branch or other support is less likely to be deserted. Here are signs that indicate a nest is no longer in use:
Nest falling apart
Active hummingbird nests are kept tidy by the adults. They may even add new materials to reinforce the nest as needed while using it. Untouched nests quickly begin to fall apart. Look for gaps in the paper-thin nest walls, sides collapsing inward, pieces breaking off, or the nest partly dislodged from its anchor point. Messy nest construction alone doesn’t guarantee abandonment, but combined with a lack of activity indicates the birds have moved on.
Nest damaged or disturbed
Predators, weather events, or human interference can also damage an active hummingbird nest. Large holes chewed in the sides, the nest tipped completely upside down, or a nest covered in mud from a downpour often lead hummingbirds to abandon the nest and start over. Damage combined with no hummingbird activity confirms the original nest is deserted.
Nest covered in spiderwebs
It doesn’t take long for spiderwebs to start covering a hummingbird nest left untouched. The adults actively clear any insects or debris while the nest is in use. If you find dense cobwebs filling or encasing the nest, it’s a sure sign hummingbirds are not returning.
Look for clues around the nest
Carefully observing the area immediately surrounding an abandoned hummingbird nest may offer more clues about what happened. Here are some details to take note of:
Eggshell fragments
Tiny blue or white eggshell pieces stuck to the nest or dropped below indicate the eggs hatched successfully. Then the nest was likely used to raise the chicks until they fledged, or learned to fly and left the nest. Finding empty shells means the nest served its natural purpose before being deserted.
Dead nestlings
If you find intact dead birds in or near the nest, predation by another animal is the likely cause. Nestlings that die naturally from starvation, exposure, or parasites will usually disappear quickly as they are eaten by scavengers. Finding lifeless chicks means a traumatic event forced the parents to abandon the nest.
Damaged branches
Scan the branches supporting the nest. Missing pieces, frayed ends, or clean breaks indicate a predator likely damaged the nest while trying to get at the eggs or chicks. Clues like these help explain why hummingbirds might have fled the area.
Consider timing and seasonality
When during the year you find an empty hummingbird nest can provide context on whether it was abandoned. Here is how timing and seasons relate to nest occupation:
Early spring
Hummingbirds regularly build multiple practice nests in early spring before settling in to nest for real. It’s common to find perfectly intact but unused nests left behind from this period. They look abandoned because they are test runs that were never actually occupied.
Mid to late summer
By midsummer, hummingbirds have usually finished nesting for the season. Discovering a nest vacant of adult activity during this time doesn’t necessarily mean disaster struck. The normal nesting period has likely come to an end, and the birds have moved on to other areas.
After severe storms
Bad weather can force hummingbirds to flee their nests. Cold snaps, hailstorms, high winds, and drenching rain make nesting conditions unlivable. Nest abandonment is unfortunately common after severe storms pass through an area.
Early or multiple broods
Some hummingbird species produce up to three broods per year in warmer climates. The nest may be deserted briefly between successful broods while the female prepares to lay more eggs. So if it’s early in the nesting season, a lapse in activity could just mean preparations for the next reproductive cycle are underway.
Remove abandoned nests
Once you confirm a hummingbird nest is inactive, go ahead and remove it. This opens up the space for hummingbirds to build a new nest if it’s still early enough in the breeding season. Here’s how to remove deserted hummingbird nests safely:
- Wear gloves to protect your hands from insects or bird mites.
- Carefully snip supporting branches on either side of the nest using scissors or pruners.
- Gently grasp the nest to avoid crushing the delicate structure as you detach it.
- Place the empty nest into a plastic bag sealed tightly shut to contain debris.
- Discard the closed bag with your regular household trash pickup.
Removing nests promptly also prevents other birds from moving in and reusing an abandoned site. This helps halt the spread of contagious parasites that may be lingering in the nest.
Prevent premature abandonment
Hummingbirds will readily desert nests and eggs if they feel unsafe or disturbed. Here are some tips to avoid causing premature abandonment:
- Don’t touch or handle active nests unnecessarily.
- Keep your distance when observing nests.
- Never remove eggs or baby birds from a nest.
- Limit noise and activity around active nest sites.
- Provide nectar feeders for adults to continue feeding while nesting.
- Let nests complete their natural cycles if possible before removing.
Conclusion
Identifying an abandoned hummingbird nest takes some careful sleuthing. Look for lack of activity, deterioration of the nest structure, clues around the area, and the timing of the nesting season. Remove nests promptly after confirming they are deserted. Avoid prematurely scaring away nesting hummingbirds with excess noise and interference. With a little awareness, you can both enjoy observing hummingbirds raising their tiny families and help protect them along the way.
