The bee hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world, with adults averaging just 5-6 cm in total length and weighing only 1.6-2.4 grams. Their tiny size makes them vulnerable to predation from a variety of animals. In this article, we will explore what animals prey upon these tiny birds in their native range in Cuba as well as during migration.
Main Predators
The main predators of bee hummingbirds are:
Snakes
Snakes are able to swallow the bee hummingbird whole. Snakes known to prey on hummingbirds include:
– Boas
– Racers
– Rat snakes
– Coachwhips
– Vine snakes
These snakes rely on ambush tactics, waiting camouflaged and striking when a hummingbird comes within reach. Their flexible jaws allow them to swallow the birds whole.
Lizards
Lizards are also able to swallow bee hummingbirds whole. Lizards known to eat hummingbirds include:
– Curly-tailed lizards
– Anoles
– Geckos
– Iguanas
These lizards typically ambush the hummingbirds from branches or leaves, waiting for them to come within reach. Their quick reflexes allow them to snatch a hummingbird right out of the air.
Amphibians
Some frogs and toads will prey on bee hummingbirds if given the opportunity. These include:
– Tree frogs
– Horned frogs
– Budgett’s frogs
These ambush predators will wait motionless for the birds to come close and then strike with their long, sticky tongues.
Spiders
Spiderwebs pose a hazard to bee hummingbirds. Some large spiders like the Golden silk orb-weaver are able to capture and kill hummingbirds that fly into their webs. Spiders then quickly wrap the birds in silk for later consumption.
Praying Mantis
With their excellent camouflage and lightning fast grasping forelimbs, praying mantises are able to capture bee hummingbirds. They lay in wait perfectly still along flower stems or branches until the tiny birds come within reach.
Other Predators
In addition to those main predators, bee hummingbirds may occasionally fall prey to:
Shrikes
Shrikes are predatory songbirds that impale their prey on thorns or barbed wire. Although they more commonly eat insects, they may occasionally capture a bee hummingbird.
Flycatchers
These predatory birds feed on flying insects but some larger species like the Vermilion flycatcher may opportunistically prey on hummingbirds.
Owls
Most owls focus on rodent prey. However pygmy owls and elf owls will eat small birds and can capture hummingbirds.
Bats
A few larger bat species may grab an occasional hummingbird at night near nectar sources.
Preying Mantises
The praying mantis’s heavier cousin, the Preying mantis, is larger and known to take hummingbirds more frequently.
Predation During Migration
Bee hummingbirds face additional predators during migration across the Gulf of Mexico between Cuba and the United States.
While crossing 500 miles of open water, they are vulnerable to predation from:
– Frigatebirds
– Jaeger seabirds
– Occasionally hawks, falcons, and American kestrels may pick them off over water
Exhaustion and starvation also take a toll during this arduous migration for this tiny bird.
Anti-Predator Adaptations
Bee hummingbirds have several adaptations that help them avoid predation:
– Camouflage – Their green plumage allows them to blend into leafy vegetation
– Speed – They can fly faster than most predators can strike
– Maneuverability – They can rapidly change directions to evade attacks
– Low body temperature – Their torpor at night or when cold makes them less visible to infrared-sensitive predators like snakes
Importance of Predation
Predation likely plays an important ecological role in relation to bee hummingbirds by:
– Preventing overpopulation and resource depletion
– Removing sick/weak individuals from the population
– Maintaining hummingbird species diversity by preventing competitive exclusion
– Driving the evolution of anti-predator adaptations
Predator Population Effects
Because of their small size and rapid metabolism, bee hummingbirds likely represent only a tiny portion of any predator’s overall diet. It is unlikely their populations have a major effect on sustaining predator numbers. One exception is during migration when their numbers may temporarily provide abundant food for seabirds.
Conservation Implications
Habitat loss poses a greater threat to bee hummingbirds than predation. Ensuring adequate habitat helps maintain healthy population numbers despite ongoing predation pressure.
Conclusion
Bee hummingbirds face predation pressure from a range of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and other birds. Their tiny size makes them vulnerable, but also gives them agility to evade attacks. Predation likely plays an important role in their ecology and evolution. Conservation should focus on habitat protections more than predator management to ensure thriving bee hummingbird numbers.
