Hummingbirds are some of the smallest and most amazing birds in the world. Their tiny size and incredible flying abilities make them a wonder to behold. Baby hummingbirds, in particular, are impossibly cute and capture our imagination as they grow from helpless hatchlings into expert flyers. But just how long does it take for a baby hummingbird to take its first flight? Let’s take a closer look at the hummingbird life cycle to find out.
The hummingbird life cycle
Hummingbirds go through a four stage life cycle:
Egg
The mother hummingbird lays a very small egg, usually only half an inch long, in a delicately woven nest. She will lay 1 to 3 tiny white eggs over 2-3 days. The eggs are only incubated by the female and hatch in 14-23 days depending on the species.
Nestling
When hummingbird chicks hatch they have almost no feathers and their eyes are closed. They are totally dependent on their mothers for food, warmth, and protection. Mother hummingbirds are fiercely protective of their helpless chicks at this stage. The chicks remain in the nest anywhere from 18-28 days, growing quickly thanks to their high metabolism.
Fledgling
Once a baby hummingbird develops some feathers and opens its eyes after a few weeks, it enters the fledgling stage. At this point the chick is ready to leave the nest. The first flight a baby hummingbird takes is ungainly and short, more of a controlled fall. But within a few days the awkward chick becomes a capable flyer. Fledglings will return to the nest when they need rest as they learn to fly, feed, and fend for themselves.
Adult
After 6-8 weeks a baby hummingbird completes its growth into an adult hummingbird. Adult hummingbirds have brilliant plumage and are able to fly remarkably fast. Their wings can beat up to 200 times per second! Hummingbirds have the largest brain relative to their body size of any bird, enabling them to make complex maneuvering and decision making while in flight. Once fully mature, hummingbirds will begin visiting flowers to feed on nectar and defend territory. The adult hummingbirds that make it through the risky fledgling phase can live 3-15 years depending on the species.
Key factors that determine when a baby hummingbird can fly
When baby hummingbirds take their first flight depends on a few key factors:
Species
There are over 300 species of hummingbirds that vary significantly in size. The Calliope hummingbird is the smallest at just 2-3 inches long and 2-3 grams in weight. Whereas the Giant hummingbird is the largest at 8-9 inches and 20 grams. Generally the smaller species will be ready to fly sooner. Here are average fledging times for some common hummingbird species:
Anna’s Hummingbird | 18-23 days |
Black-chinned Hummingbird | 22-26 days |
Broad-tailed Hummingbird | 22-26 days |
Rufous Hummingbird | 18-22 days |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 18-22 days |
Nest type
Hummingbirds build two main types of nests:
Cup nests: These small cup-shaped nests are made of soft plant down held together by spiderwebs. They are built by female hummingbirds in the branches of trees and shrubs up to 20 feet off the ground. Most hummingbirds use this style of nest. The tighter quarters mean fledglings need to develop faster to fly from these high nests.
Cavity nests: Some hummingbird species nest in old woodpecker holes or other natural tree cavities. These more protected nests allow for a longer nestling period. For example, the Anna’s hummingbird nests in cavities and fledges in 24-26 days, longer than other similarly sized species.
Climate
Warmer climates allow for faster growth and development of hummingbird chicks. Colder climates or lack of food sources require a longer nesting period before fledging. For example, Broad-tailed hummingbird chicks in Canada may need over 30 days in the nest compared to 22-26 days in Southern California.
Predation and competition
Areas with high predation, parasites, or competition for food sources will drive earlier fledging. Hummingbirds nesting near hawks, jays, squirrels, and ants have been observed to fledge earlier than those in safer habitats. Lack of food availability also speeds development.
Health of the chick
Malnutrition, injury, or genetic defects can all delay a chick’s first flight. Underweight and weaker chicks will need more time before fledging. Some never make it out of the nest at all if they lack the strength and energy to fly. Any developmental issues reduce chances of surviving to adulthood.
Experience of the mother
First time mother hummingbirds may have lower hatching and fledging success rates. Their inexperience can lead to inadequate incubation, poor nest placement, insufficient feeding, and increased risk of predation. The most resilient and clever mothers pass along their best nesting sites and techniques to produce the healthiest, fastest developing chicks.
Typical hummingbird fledging timeline
Now that we’ve looked at the key variables, here is a general timeline of the major milestones as a hummingbird chick develops its flying skills:
Day 1 | Hatch from the egg |
Day 10 | Feathers begin to emerge |
Day 15 | Eyes open, start to look around |
Day 16-22 | Move around the nest with stronger neck muscles |
Day 18-28 | Fledge from the nest for the first flight |
3-10 days after fledging | Able to fly and hover skillfully |
35-45 days | Reaches adult size and independence |
So most hummingbird chicks are ready for their first flight 3-4 weeks after hatching. But they continue maturing their maneuverability and stamina for another couple weeks before reaching full adult flying proficiency. The whole process from egg to adult spans about 1-2 months for most species.
Preparing for that important first flight
In the days right before fledging, baby hummingbirds rapidly develop the key flying skills they will need:
Growing flight feathers
The chick’s flight feathers go from little nubs to almost full length in just a matter of days. These primary feathers on the wings and tail expand and become stiff and durable enough to generate lift and control flight. Hummingbirds have between 9 and 11 primary flight feathers on each wing.
Flapping wings
Chicks exercise their wings up to two weeks before fledging. Starting around 10 days old they can be seen flapping and stretching while still in the nest. This builds up critical muscle strength they will need to fly.
Perching
In the few days before their first flight the chicks will perch on the rim of the nest. This tests balance and gets the feet and legs used to grasping. Strong feet and legs equipped with sharp talons are essential for clinging to branches and leaves.
Alertness
Fledglings need sharpened eyesight, hearing, and reflexes to avoid dangers like predators, obstacles, and bad weather. The chick becomes much more alert right before fledging. Head movements and looking around indicate it is priming its sensory awareness.
Filling up on calories
The mother hummingbird feeds her chick frequently, providing the burst of calories needed for high energy activities like flying. Chicks may double their weight in the 24 hours leading up to their first flight. They’ll need these fat reserves to survive those critical early days out of the nest.
Getting restless
When the chick starts moving around the nest more, standing on the rim, and looking eager to jump – it means fledging is imminent! The healthy chick is mature enough and desperate to test its wings.
The first flight and beyond
Once the big moment arrives, the chick will fly up to a nearby branch or leaf and most likely just cling there watching its mother fly around to provide more food. The branches around the nest are ideal for the initial short flights of a day or two. Fledglings lack stamina at first, so frequent rest stops are needed.
Within a week the juvenile hummingbird is flying competently but still being fed by its mother periodically. She shows the fledgling the best local flowers, food sources, perches, and roosting spots in their territory. There is still a lot to learn!
By 3-4 weeks after leaving the nest, the young hummingbird can feed and fend entirely for itself. It will spend more time chasing intruders from its territory and interacting with other hummingbirds. Now virtually indistinguishable from an adult, it is ready for a long life of flight!
Conclusion
In as little as 18 days after hatching, a baby hummingbird can take its first wobbly flight. But it takes about 6 more weeks of growth and practice before it achieves the speed, agility, and endurance of a mature adult hummingbird. The rate of development depends primarily on species, nest type, climate, food availability, and threats from predators. This tiny bird’s first flight is a huge accomplishment, allowing it to instantly expand its world from the cozy nest to an entire sky of possibilities.