Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that bring joy and wonder into our lives. Watching their aerobatic feats and admiring their iridescent colors as they visit our feeders and gardens is a delight. Many people enjoy putting up nest boxes or finding natural nooks and crannies to encourage hummingbirds to nest on their property. Offering safe and comfortable nesting sites for hummingbirds requires providing appropriate nesting materials. So what exactly should you use in a hummingbird nest box or nest area?
Types of Nesting Materials Hummingbirds Use
In the wild, hummingbirds build nests out of a variety of soft plant fibers, down feathers, spider silk, buds, moss, and even lichen. They prefer nest materials that are soft, flexible, and able to expand as their babies grow. Female hummingbirds gather the materials and carefully weave together a stretchy, cup-shaped interior nest bed to hold the eggs and support the nestlings as they mature. Some common natural hummingbird nesting materials include:
- Plant fibers – Downy fibers from plants like thistle, milkweed, cattail, and cottonwood are excellent nest materials. The tiny threads provide a soft lining for the nest.
- Spider silk – Spider silk offers a flexible binding material to stitch the nest together.
- Feathers – Small downy body feathers plucked from other birds provide warmth and cushioning.
- Moss – Bits of moss help provide a sturdy base for the walls of the nest.
- Lichen – Lichen offers a natural “glue” to hold the nesting materials together.
- Buds – Soft buds from plants like cottonwoods, dandelions, and thistles provide a soft, expandable interior.
The most critical characteristics for hummingbird nest materials are that they be soft, flexible, compressible, and able to stretch without breaking apart. The materials need to cushion and conform to the growing chicks in the small nest space.
Best Materials for Hummingbird Nest Boxes
When encouraging hummingbirds to nest in birdhouses or nest boxes in your yard, it is important to provide appropriate nesting materials. While you don’t want to fill the nest box with materials ahead of time (the female hummingbird will build the interior nest herself), you’ll want to set out fibers, feathers, and other soft matter nearby that she can easily collect and incorporate. Here are some of the best materials to use in hummingbird nest boxes:
- Cotton balls – The thin fibers allow cotton balls to be shredded and fluffed into a soft down-like lining.
- Dog or cat hair – Pet fur provides excellent insulation and cushioning for nests.
- Dryer lint – Lint is soft and compressible, perfect for weaving nest walls.
- Synthetic pillow stuffing – Polyester stuffing creates fluffy linings when pulled and stretched.
- Loose wool fibers – Gentle wool makes great expandable nesting material.
- Pine needles – Finely shredded pine needles create soft, bouncy beds.
- Feathers – Small downy body feathers work best.
- Wood shavings – Fine soft shavings make good sturdy outer nest layers.
Avoid materials like straw, grass, twigs, string, yarn, or anything stiff and poky. The materials should be soft, pliable, and quick-drying. Place small tufts of the materials in a mesh bag or tray attached near the nest box for the hummingbirds to access.
Other Ideas for Hummingbird Nest Materials
In addition to traditional natural fibers and the synthetic materials listed above, there are a few other creative options that can work well as hummingbird nesting supplies:
- Angel hair (glass wool) – These fine strands of spun glass can provide a soft cotton-candy-like nest lining. Just avoid any dyes.
- Silk from silkworm cocoons – Natural silk threads are flexible and strong.
- Teabags – The insides of teabags are made from very fine fluffy fibers.
- Spiderwebs – If spiderwebs accumulate in your eaves or windows, they can be a great building material.
- Orchid bark – The soft inner fibers create fluffy bedding.
- Cattail or milkweed down – The tiny seed hairs have natural insulation properties.
Always avoid materials like recycled paper or cardboard, coconut coir, straw, hemp, or jute. They tend to retain too much moisture and get soggy. The best hummingbird nesting supplies will be soft, springy, and quick to dry.
Where to Place Hummingbird Nesting Materials
Female hummingbirds are quite particular about gathering the right materials to build their tiny cups of silken nests. To make it as easy as possible for them, place the nesting supplies in open mesh bags or trays where the hummingbirds can access them as they build. Some good locations include:
- Hanging near the nest box
- Mounted to a porch railing or tree
- Tucked into an overhang or eave
- On top of fence posts or railings
- Hidden within flowers or shrubs
- Supported by or within a nectar feeder
Position the materials in a spot get easily collected mid-flight. Change out the fibers, down, or other fluff periodically, removing any unused wet or soiled pieces. Provide fresh dry options as the female progresses with constructing her snug nest.
Conclusion
With their tiny size and high metabolisms, hummingbirds need a safe, comfortable place to lay their equally teensy eggs and raise their young. By providing the right nest building materials in your yard, you can give hummingbirds a better chance of nesting successfully. Focus on natural fibers from plants like thistle, cottonwood, and dandelions or synthetic alternatives including cotton balls, polyester stuffing, and clothing lint. Avoid straw, cardboard, or any coarse, stiff materials. Set the soft nesting supplies near nest boxes or sites semi-protected from the elements where the female hummingbird can easily gather them mid-flight. With the right fluffy, flexible materials, you can help encourage hummingbirds to build and occupy their remarkable petite nests on your property.
