Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures. Their tiny size and incredible speed make them a joy to watch. One of the most fascinating aspects of hummingbird life cycles is the dedication with which mother hummingbirds care for their young.
How do mother hummingbirds care for their babies?
Mother hummingbirds build a nest out of soft plant down, spider webs, and lichens. The nest is only about 2 inches wide and half an inch deep – just big enough to cradle two tiny eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the mother hummingbird feeds her babies through a grueling schedule of visiting the nest every 5-10 minutes throughout the day. With such small babies to feed, the mother hummingbird has to visit the nest constantly to ensure they get enough nutrition to survive and grow. This nonstop feeding continues until the babies are ready to leave the nest.
How long do hummingbirds stay in the nest?
Baby hummingbirds grow incredibly fast. They typically leave the nest about 18-22 days after hatching. Here is the approximate timeline:
- Eggs are incubated for 14-16 days before hatching
- Baby hummingbirds remain in the nest for 18-22 days after hatching
- Total time from eggs to fledging is about 4 weeks
To put their growth into perspective, hummingbird babies increase their body mass around 10,000% in just over 3 weeks! Their rapid development is likely an adaptation to avoid predators.
How do mother hummingbirds feed their babies?
Baby hummingbirds drink fluid droplets of nectar and softened insects provided by their mother. Here is how she feeds them:
- The mother catches tiny insects and softens them in her mouth.
- She drinks nectar from flowers, storing it in her crop (a pouch-like organ).
- At the nest, she sticks her beak into the mouths of the babies and pumps regurgitated insect and nectar mixture down their throats.
- Each feeding session lasts 3-5 minutes, with feeds occurring every 5-10 minutes.
The protein from insects supports the babies’ rapid growth, while the nectar provides energy. The mother must constantly forage to gather enough food for her demanding brood.
How many times a day does a mother hummingbird feed her babies?
During the 18-22 days the babies are in the nest, the mother hummingbird feeds them between 500-1,200 times per day. That’s once every 2-12 minutes!
Researchers have counted how many feeding visits hummingbird mothers make by quietly observing nests in the wild. Here are some of their findings:
| Study | Number of Feeding Visits Per Day |
|---|---|
| Licht (1975) | 540 |
| Montgomerie et al. (1984) | 1,200 |
| Ortiz-Crespo (1972) | 700 |
These seemingly tireless mothers rarely sleep longer than 10-15 minutes at a time while caring for their nestlings. Their dedication ensures their offspring get adequate nutrition during this critical growth phase.
What happens after the babies leave the nest?
Once the babies are ready to leave the nest, they will perch near the rim for a couple days, exercising their wings in preparation for sustained flight. At this stage, the mother hummingbird continues to feed them as they learn to forage on their own.
The mother eventually tapers off feedings over a period of 2-3 weeks. By carefully weaning her offspring, she ensures they can survive independently in the wild.
The fledglings quickly master the hover-feeding that hummingbirds are famous for. But their ability to breed won’t mature for another full year. The mother hummingbird’s job is done – though she may go on to raise 2-3 more broods in a single breeding season.
Why do mother hummingbirds work so hard?
Caring for offspring is energy-intensive for all species. But hummingbirds take it to the extreme due to their teensy size and supercharged metabolisms. A cold night or skipped feeding could doom the babies, so the mother is compelled by instinct to feed as often as possible.
Their dedication also stems from the fact hummingbirds have a low reproductive rate. Each female may only raise 2-3 broods per year, usually with just 2 babies per brood. There’s an evolutionary incentive to invest heavily in each offspring to ensure the next generation flourishes.
How do mother hummingbirds know what to do?
Hummingbird moms seem hard-wired with the right behaviors to nurture their young. Building the nest, incubating eggs, defending the territory, and feeding the chicks are all intricately programmed natural instincts.
Interestingly, first-time mothers and older veteran moms perform equally well in raising their broods. Their techniques don’t necessarily improve with experience – those maternal instincts kick in just as strongly each time.
Conclusion
Mother hummingbirds are incredible parents. Despite being one of the smallest birds on Earth, they take on the monumental task of rearing their chicks virtually alone. Their never-ending toil to collect food enables their nestlings to grow from tiny hatchlings to independent, flying juveniles in just a few short weeks. It’s no wonder we so admire the tenacious dedication hummingbird mothers display in nurturing their young.
