Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that have captured the fascination of people for centuries. Their jewel-colored plumage, diminutive size, incredible flying skills, and seemingly boundless energy make them a delight to watch. But with their high metabolism and rapid heartbeat, hummingbirds need to consume a lot of energy to survive. This often leads people to wonder – how long can hummingbirds live on sugar water alone?
Do hummingbirds only drink nectar?
While hummingbirds get most of their nutrients from flower nectar and sugar water feeders provided by humans, they do not live on sugar alone. Nectar and sugar water provide hummingbirds with carbohydrates for energy, but they need other food sources to get all the nutrients they require.
In the wild, hummingbirds supplement their diet by catching small insects and spiders which provide them with protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and fat. Some favorite insect foods include fruit flies, aphids, gnats, mosquitoes, caterpillars, ants, beetles, and spider webs. Hummingbirds may eat hundreds of tiny insects every day to meet their nutritional needs.
So while sugar water is an important energy source for hummingbirds, they could not survive long term on it alone. They need a balanced diet including nectar as well as protein and nutrients from insects and spiders.
How many calories do hummingbirds need?
Hummingbirds have an exceptionally high metabolism that requires them to consume enormous amounts of energy. Just to survive through the night when they are not actively feeding, they burn up to 12 times as many calories per ounce as an elephant does!
To power their wings for hovering and flying, hummingbirds need a tremendous amount of energy for their size. The average hummingbird needs to consume about half its body weight in sugars every single day. This corresponds to between 1200-8000 calories per day depending on the hummingbird’s size and activity levels.
In comparison, an average adult human needs about 2000 calories a day. So a hummingbird may need to eat 4-5 times as many calories as a person does to meet its energy demands. All those calories from nectar and sugar water provide the fuel to power a hummingbird’s wings for flight and its fasting heart rate of over 500 beats per minute.
How is sugar water like nectar?
Sugar water is an artificial replacement for flower nectar which provides hummingbirds with the carbohydrates they need for energy. Making sugar water for hummingbirds is intended to replicate the natural nectar they drink from flowers.
Natural nectar is about 20-40% sugars dissolved in water. The main sugars in flower nectar are sucrose, glucose, and fructose. To make homemade nectar for hummingbirds, white granulated sugar is dissolved in water at a ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. This creates a 20% sugar solution that provides the carbohydrate energy hummingbirds require.
While plain white sugar does not have the micronutrients found in natural nectar, it is an abundant source of carbohydrates. The simplicity of sugar and water makes it an excellent substitute for offering hummingbirds the fast energy they need. As long as they have other sources of proteins and nutrients in their diet, sugar water can sustain hummingbirds in the absence of flowers.
How long can hummingbirds survive on sugar water alone?
Hummingbirds can survive on sugar water alone for a brief period of time, but they cannot live indefinitely on sugar alone. Here is how long hummingbirds can survive with just sugar water and no nutritional intake from insects or spiders:
- 12-24 hours – Hummingbirds can go into torpor, a hibernation-like state to conserve energy overnight when food is unavailable. They can survive purely on their sugar stores for a half day up to one full day if necessary.
- 3-5 days – Without any protein intake, hummingbirds may survive three to five days on sugar water alone by entering torpor on and off to conserve energy when not actively feeding.
- 2 weeks – In laboratory experiments, hummingbirds sustained only on sugar water survived a maximum of about two weeks before they became weak, lethargic, and died. Two weeks is the longest documented survival on carbohydrates alone.
While sugar provides vital energy, hummingbirds also need essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and fat from insect prey to survive long-term. Without adequate protein and nutrients, they will weaken, lose muscle mass, and ultimately starve.
How does lack of protein affect hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds deprived of protein from insects for an extended period of time will begin to suffer both physically and behaviorally including:
- Loss of muscle mass – Without protein to repair muscles, hummingbirds lose strength and stability required for flight
- Compromised immune function – Protein malnutrition inhibits the immune system, making birds prone to disease
- Inability to migrate – Loss of muscle mass and fat storage from lack of protein prevents migration
- Changes in behavior – Extreme lethargy, decreased activity and vocalizations indicate distress
- Loss of bright plumage – Dull or faded feathers may indicate protein deficiency
- Brittle bones – Lack of nutrients like calcium leads to fragile bones that fracture easily
These deterioration effects escalate the longer a hummingbird goes without adequate protein in its diet. Within two weeks, the bird will be extremely weak and unlikely to recover even if provided with proper nutrition again. Meeting protein needs with insects is essential to hummingbirds’ health.
Do hummingbirds get nutrients from sugar water?
Plain white sugar dissolved in water does not contain any of the proteins, vitamins, minerals, amino acids or fat that hummingbirds need to survive. However, natural flower nectar does provide some micronutrients in addition to sugar-fueled carbohydrates.
Some key micronutrients hummingbirds get from natural nectar include:
- Amino acids – Building blocks of protein help maintain muscle
- Antioxidants – Help neutralize damaging free radicals
- Vitamins and minerals – Support metabolic processes and bone health
- Phytochemicals – Bioactive compounds from plants have health benefits
- Enzymes – Aid in digestion of sugars in nectar
Though natural nectar has more nutrients than pure sugar water, hummingbirds still need to get most of their protein, vitamins and minerals from insect prey to meet nutritional requirements.
Tips for caring for hummingbirds:
Here are some tips to provide the best care for hummingbirds in your yard:
- Make homemade nectar with 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, boil water first and let cool before mixing
- Avoid red dye, honey, and artificial sweeteners in nectar
- Change nectar every 2-3 days to prevent spoilage
- Clean feeders thoroughly with hot water and no soap
- Hang feeders in shade to prevent nectar from fermenting
- Plant native flowers and trees that attract insects hummingbirds eat
- Avoid pesticides that can poison hummingbirds’ insect food source
- Provide a water mister for hummingbirds to bathe and drink
- Never give hummingbirds only sugar water long term
With proper care including nectar feeders and insect-attracting habitats, you can support hummingbirds successfully. Just be sure to provide protein as well as sugar water to meet their nutritional needs.
Signs a hummingbird is sick or starving:
Look for these signs that a hummingbird may be unwell and in need of help:
| Physical Symptoms | Behavioral Changes |
|---|---|
| Loss of appetite | Unusual lethargy or loss of energy |
| Feathers lacking sheen | Not using its feet while perched |
| Labored or rapid breathing | Unable to fly or uncoordinated flying |
| Weakness or tremors | Tame, unafraid of humans |
| Ruffled, drooping wings | Not vocalizing |
If you notice any of these symptoms, provide sugar water for quick energy and contact a wildlife rehabilitator. With supportive care, the hummingbird may recover if its weakened state is caught early enough.
Conclusion
While hummingbirds can temporarily get by on sugar water alone, they cannot survive indefinitely without protein from insects. Sugar provides the carbohydrate fuel to power their metabolically taxing hovering flight, but hummingbirds also require essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and fat from prey. If deprived of protein for more than two weeks, hummingbirds will weaken, starve, and die.
By offering both nectar feeders and insect-friendly habitats, you can support hummingbirds’ needs. Pay attention for signs of weakness or illness and be prepared to contact a wildlife rehabilitator for rescue care. With appropriate food and habitat, we can help maintain hummingbird populations and continue to enjoy these energetic, iridescent jewels of nature.
