Hummingbirds have long been associated with carrying messages in mythology and folklore around the world. Their small size, dazzling colors, speedy flight, and the fact that they can fly backwards make them seem almost supernatural. Many cultures see hummingbirds as messengers from the spirit world or harbingers of luck, joy, and love. But what exactly are hummingbirds messengers of in the natural world?
Hummingbirds as Pollinators
One of the primary things hummingbirds communicate is the availability of nectar. Hummingbirds are essential pollinators for many flowering plants. Their ability to hover in place allows them to efficiently feed on nectar at each blossom. As they move from flower to flower sipping nectar, pollen sticks to their heads and bodies and is transferred to the next blossom. This fertilizes the plant so it can produce seeds and fruit.
Some species of plants rely entirely on hummingbirds for pollination. These flowers are specially adapted to attract hummingbirds while deterring bees and other pollinators. They are often red in color, tubular in shape, and hold abundant, high-sugar nectar. Examples include lilies, fuchsias, and manzanitas. Without hummingbird pollination, these species would disappear. So every time a hummingbird visits these flowers, it spreads the message that they are open for business and ready to reproduce. The hummingbird also benefits by getting nutrients from the nectar. This mutualistic relationship is vital for maintaining diverse ecosystems.
Seasonal Migration
Hummingbirds also communicate information about seasons and availability of resources through their migration patterns. Most hummingbird species that breed in North America migrate south to Mexico and Central America every winter. Their appearance in spring lets people know winter is over and summer’s bounty has arrived.
Some Native American tribes believed hummingbirds flew south in winter to retrieve the spirits of ancestors or bring back the season’s first flowers. In Central America, people saw the hummingbirds’ return as a sign to prepare fields for planting. The Aztecs associated hummingbirds with fertility and used their return to mark the start of the agricultural cycle.
Seeing hummingbirds arrive precisely when flowers are blooming demonstrates their intricate connection to plant life. The timing of hummingbird migration is a complex response to changing daylight, temperatures, and food supplies. By following nectar sources, hummingbirds provide information about seasonal rhythms and habitats.
Communication Between Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds also use various signals to communicate with each other. One way is through their brilliant plumage. The iridescent feathers on a male hummingbird’s throat are meant to attract females and warn rival males. When a male sees his reflection, he may interpret it as a competitor and aggressively display his feathers.
Hummingbirds also vocalize with each other using chirps, squeaks, and whistles. Scientists believe males use vocalizations to defend territory and court females. Females likely respond with their own calls to indicate receptiveness. Hummingbird vocalizations are very high-pitched, sometimes beyond human hearing range. Slowed-down recordings reveal intricate songs.
In addition, male hummingbirds perform aerial courtship displays for females. They fly in loops, dives, and rapid ascents to show off their flying skills. This “dance” communicates to watching females that the male is fit, healthy, and capable of evading predators. Each species has a unique courtship routine adapted over evolutionary time. The female watching judges the display and decides whether to mate with that male.
Defense of Food Sources
Hummingbirds also communicate with each other to defend nectar resources. They stake out flower patches, nectar feeders, and sap wells as their exclusive territories. When an intruder approaches, they make aggressive displays. This may involve vocalizations or approaching and hovering directly in front of the intruder. If warnings don’t work, they escalate to physical attacks like stabbing with the bill or aerial battles. Their fierce protectiveness communicates that the food source is claimed and not up for sharing.
Warning of Dangers
In some cases, hummingbirds give alarm calls that warn others of potential threats. One example is the band-tailed pigeon, a larger relative of doves that preys on hummingbirds. When a hummingbird spots a pigeon, it makes a high-pitched call that tells other hummingbirds to seek cover.
Hummingbirds may also vocalize in response to predators like hawks, falcons, and orioles. Their rapid communication helps all the hummingbirds escape attack by fleeing to safety. Experiments using recordings of alarm calls have verified that hummingbirds recognize and respond to these warning messages. Their alarm calls are a shortcut for danger that helps the whole local population.
Indicators of Habitat Quality
The presence and behavior of hummingbirds provides clues about an environment’s viability as habitat. Hummingbirds thrive in areas with flowering plants that provide plenty of nectar. If the flowers disappear due to human activities like development, spraying, or climate change, the hummingbirds disappear too. They need continuous access to food, with sources available across seasons, elevations, and terrain. An abundance and diversity of hummingbirds shows the habitat supports their needs.
Scientists also study hummingbirds to evaluate restoration projects and habitat health. By tracking hummingbird numbers, species variety, nesting success, and fledgling rates over time, they can measure how effectively a habitat sustains life. If hummingbirds decline or disappear from a restored habitat, it’s a sign the project has failed. Their presence demonstrates complex food webs and ecological balance. In this way, hummingbirds act as a symbol of a healthy functioning ecosystem.
Climate Change Messengers
Hummingbird migrations are timed very precisely with flower blooming cycles. Small disruptions in seasonal timing can threaten this vital timing. Due to climate change, many flowers are blooming and hummingbirds are migrating earlier in the year.
Research shows that hummingbirds are struggling to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. In one study, flowers bloomed 10 days earlier than in the past, but hummingbirds only arrived 3 days earlier. This can leave them facing nectar shortages. Their tight co-evolution with plants makes hummingbirds especially vulnerable.
Scientists track hummingbird arrival dates, breeding success, population numbers, and ability to sync migrations with blooming. Ongoing research seeks to understand if and how quickly hummingbirds can adapt. As a model for migration and climate impacts, hummingbirds provide insight on ecosystem stability. Their sensitivity to climate serves as an alarm bell that global warming may exceed the limits many species can withstand.
Boosters of Human Mood and Health
Hummingbirds also carry messages that affect human psychological and physical wellness. Their playful flights and graceful beauty have inspired people across cultures. Watching hummingbirds has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Their constant activity evokes feelings of joy and wonder. Cultural stories portray them as healers, luck charms, and symbols of love.
More tangibly, hummingbirds support human health through their essential pollination services. Between 75-95% of flowering tropical plants rely on birds as pollinators. Many of these plants, like cocoa and vanilla, provide valuable commodities. Hummingbirds help produce food, beverages, spices, dyes, and traditional medicines. Preserving hummingbird populations ensures continued growth and diversity of plants that benefit people.
As pollinators, they also contribute to cleaner air, soil conservation, carbon storage, and water filtration from well-vegetated landscapes. With their remarkable flying skills and energetic lifestyles, hummingbirds inspire people to be more active, curious, and engaged with nature. All evidence suggests that time spent watching and enjoying hummingbirds can lift moods and benefit mental and physical wellbeing.
Conclusion
While hummingbirds fly fast and far, they are vulnerable to threats that disrupt their precisely timed life cycles. Habitat loss, climate change, and reduced resources endanger many hummingbird species worldwide. To protect their future, and our own, we can support land conservation, reduce pesticides, plant native flowers, keep cats indoors, and embrace sustainable energy. With care and environmental stewardship, hummingbirds will continue dazzling future generations with their colorful messages.
