Hummingbirds go through an incredible transformation from the time they hatch from their tiny eggs to becoming the energetic, colorful birds we know. Newly hatched hummingbirds look very different than their adult counterparts. Keep reading to learn all about what hummingbirds look like as babies and see their amazing development!
Eggs
Hummingbird eggs are very small, typically about the size of a jellybean. They are white and oval or round in shape. The eggs have very little visible variation or markings on the outside. Hummingbird eggs are laid 1-2 days apart and take 14-23 days to hatch depending on the species.
Hatching
When it’s time to hatch, the baby hummingbird will use its egg tooth to chip a hole in the egg shell. The egg tooth falls off a day or two after hatching. Hatchlings are almost completely naked when they emerge from the egg, with just a small amount of downy feathers on their head and back. Their eyes are closed at this point.
Appearance
Newly hatched hummingbirds are tiny, often weighing less than a penny. Their bodies are about the size of a bumblebee. Here are some key facts about how they look:
- Size: 1.5 to 2 inches long from tip of beak to end of tail
- Weight: 0.1 to 0.3 oz
- Color: Pinkish-gray skin, some downy white/gray feathers on head and back
- Beak: Short, straight, black beak
- Legs and feet: Thin, spindly yellow legs and feet
- Eyes: Closed eyes (open in a few days)
Their tiny bodies are not very well developed at this point. Hatchlings look almost nothing like colorful, fully feathered adult hummingbirds sipping nectar from flowers.
Activity Level
Despite their small size and underdeveloped appearance, hummingbird hatchlings are surprisingly active. Soon after hatching, they are capable of crawling around the nest and raising their heads to be fed by the parent birds.
Early Growth and Feathers
In the first couple weeks after hatching, hummingbird chicks will start to open their eyes and grow feathers. Here are some key developments:
- Eyes open at 5-14 days
- Body feathers start growing around 7 days
- Full covering of downy “prejuvenal” body feathers by 14 days
- Flight feathers begin growing at 18-22 days
Their feathers go through an interesting progression:
- Natal down – The soft, fluffy down covering the body at hatching.
- Mesoptile down – Denser down that starts growing in around day 7.
- Prejuvenal (prealternate) down – Full covering of down feathers around 2 weeks old.
- Juvenal plumage – First true feathers including flight feathers starting 3 weeks old.
Within a month of hatching, hummingbird chicks will be almost fully feathered and ready for their first flights!
Differences Between Males and Females
The sexes of newly hatched hummingbirds look alike. Both males and females have the pinkish-gray skin and light downy feathers when they emerge from the egg. There are no distinguishing differences between male and female hummingbird hatchlings.
As they mature, certain species will begin to show sexual dimorphism where the adult males and females look different. For example, adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have vibrant red throats, while females have white throats.
Feeding and Growth
Hummingbird chicks grow incredibly fast. Here are some key facts about their rapid development:
- Hatchlings are ready to be fed within hours of hatching.
- They are fed pre-digested insects and nectar by their mothers.
- Weight grows from 0.1g at hatching to 3g in two weeks.
- By 3 weeks old, they are ready to leave the nest.
To support this speedy growth, baby hummingbirds need to be fed every 20-30 minutes from sun up to sun down. Amazingly, they increase their body mass by 300-400% in just the first day after hatching! This is the fastest growth rate of any vertebrate animal.
Leaving the Nest
At 20-25 days old, hummingbird chicks will leave the nest and take their first flight. They typically leave the nest before their tail feathers are fully grown in. The mother continues care for another 7-14 days, feeding the fledglings as they learn to fly, forage, and become independent.
Ability to Hover
Hummingbirds are famous for their unique ability to hover in midair by rapidly flapping their wings 15-80 times per second. But baby hummingbirds don’t master this right away after hatching. Here’s the progression:
- 1 week old – Can lift head and crawl around nest
- 2-3 weeks old – Flaps wings to build muscle but can’t fly
- 3 weeks old – Takes first short hovering flights
- 4-5 weeks old – Able to sustain hovering and forward flight
Fledgling hummingbirds get better at hovering, accelerating, stopping, and maneuvering with more practice outside the nest. Their flight skills quickly improve with help from the mother bird.
Colors and Markings
While adult male hummingbirds often have bright, iridescent plumage, the hatchlings are mostly dull gray or white. But some subtle colors can be seen soon after the downy feathers start growing in:
- Soft white or gray downy feathers on head, back, and underparts
- Pale yellow tinge on bill, legs, and feet
- Slight greenish tint on wings and tail
- Faint reddish hue on head and throat (in Ruby-throats)
These early hints of color signify what the eventually brilliant plumage will look like. The full vibrant colors don’t emerge until the first molt into adult feathers.
Similarities to Adults
Although baby hummingbirds go through remarkable changes, some features are in place right from the start:
- Long slender bills – Used for drinking nectar
- Tiny feet configured for perching
- Wings designed for agile flight
- Skeletons adapted for hovering
- Double-jointed ankles that allow them to turn their feet almost 180 degrees
These specialized anatomical featuresHummingbird hatchlings already have the tools they need to grow into their roles as nectar-feeding aerialists.
Variation Between Species
There are over 300 different hummingbird species. While their early development is very similar, there can be some small differences in hatchling appearance:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Typical gray-white downy feathers
- Faint reddish hue on head and throat
- Straight black beak
Anna’s Hummingbird
- White or gray downy feathers
- Tinge of green on head
- Hint of red on throat
- Slightly decurved black bill
Rufous Hummingbird
- Creamy white or tan down
- Touch of rusty orange on throat
- Very slightly downturned bill
These subtle differences reflect the final adult plumages of the males of each species. But in their early stage, hummingbirds all start off looking generally alike.
Conclusion
In their transition from egg to adult, hummingbirds undergo a truly astonishing transformation. Hatchlings emerge looking almost nothing like the colorful flying jewels they will become. But beneath their delicate baby down, they already have the built-in tools to thrive as hummingbirds. With proper care and nourishment, these tiny newborns rapidly grow and learn to flutter, hover, and fly on their route to maturity.
