It’s a common sight to see a hummingbird hovering in front of a flower, sipping nectar with its long beak. But once in a while, you may notice a hummingbird flying under a branch or feeder and sticking itself upside down! This behavior is perfectly normal for hummingbirds, and there are a few reasons they do it.
To Feed
One of the main reasons hummingbirds hang upside down is to get food. By suspending themselves upside down, they can reach flowers and feeders that are obstructed from above. This allows them to access nectar from blooms that face downward or sideways. Hanging upside down lets hummingbirds feed from trumpet-shaped flowers, hanging feeders, and blossoms that point in all directions. It gives them more options and flexibility when seeking out nectar.
In the wild, hummingbirds will hang upside down to get at nectar deep inside flowers. Some blooms have nectar hidden inside that can only be reached from below. By inverting themselves, hummingbirds can probe into the center of flowers and extract more nectar. This helps supplement their diet when food sources are limited.
To Rest
Hummingbirds also hang upside down to conserve energy. Hovering and flying require a lot of exertion from their tiny wings. By clutching onto a branch or feeder and resting upside down, hummingbirds can take a break from actively flapping their wings. This allows them to preserve energy and take mini naps.
When hanging upside down, the hummingbird’s feet clamp tightly onto the perch. This means their feet support their entire weight, allowing the wings and body to relax. The upside down position helps take weight off the wings so they can recharge. Hummingbirds may simply rest their wings or enter a brief period of actual sleep while inverted. Hanging upside down serves as a convenient, energy-efficient resting posture.
To Roost
In addition to short upside down rests, hummingbirds also use an inverted roosting position for sleeping at night. As daylight fades, hummingbirds will find a sheltered spot to cling upside down for extended sleep. This upside down nighttime roost helps camouflage them against branches and conceal them from predators.
By gripping firmly with their feet and entering a hibernation-like state, hummingbirds can conserve a huge amount of energy overnight. Hanging upside down puts their body in a relaxed, energy-saving posture so less effort is needed for sustaining basic functions through the night. It’s an ingenious adaptation that allows hummingbirds to survive on very little sleep.
To Dry Off
Raindrops and moisture can saturate a hummingbird’s dense, insulating plumage. When their feathers get soaked, hanging upside down allows hummingbirds to dry off efficiently. By inverting themselves, water droplets roll off their back and wings. This lets gravity do the work of removing excess moisture from their plumage.
Dangling upside down also exposes their underside and spreads their feathers apart from below. This circulation of air helps facilitate evaporation of water trapped inside the plumage. Becoming inverted is a smart drying technique that lets hummingbirds quickly regain their ability to insulate and maintain body heat after storms.
To Groom
In addition to drying, hummingbirds may hang upside down to groom their feathers. Preening is an essential part of their daily routine to maintain healthy plumage. Hanging inverted provides better access to parts of the body that are difficult to reach from a perched position.
From an upside down posture, hummingbirds can nibble and scratch their back, wings, and hard-to-reach spots with their beak. They can also rub their head, chin and beak against preened feathers to smooth them into place. The inverted position allows them to contort into grooming positions difficult to achieve while upright. By dangling upside down, hummingbirds can ensure their feathers stay align and in optimal condition.
To Scratch
Like grooming, an upside down posture lets hummingbirds scratch hard-to-reach spots on their body. By suspending upside down, they can wriggle into contorted stretches that allow their feet to scratch spots behind wings, on their back, and under tail coverts. Dangling upside down enables intense full-body scratches they just can’t achieve while perched upright. This inverted scratching can provide relief from itches and irritations caused by feather mites or dust.
To Thermoregulate
In cool conditions, hummingbirds may hang upside down to conserve body heat. Feathers provide excellent insulation, but only when air is trapped within them. By inverting themselves, hummingbirds can fluff up their plumage so it lofts up naturally around their body. This increases air pockets within the plumage so more heat gets trapped near the skin. Hanging upside down enables a natural flow of feathers around their body that maximizes insulation.
To Mate
When mating with females, male hummingbirds will often hang upside down during the act. This inverted copulation allows better connection and joining of the cloacas. Males may also hang upside down when displaying for females, either while flying in courtship flights or grasping perches. By dangling upside down, males can show off colorful plumage and iridescent feathers to impress potential mates. The female may similarly hang upside down during mating if the position allows easier coupling.
To Scrutinize
Hummingbirds are very observant, cautious birds. Their small size makes them vulnerable, so they must be attentive to possible danger. Hanging upside down allows hummingbirds to get a different visual perspective on their surroundings. By viewing the world inverted, they may detect sights and movements they would miss from an upright posture. This upside-down scrutiny helps hummingbirds identify food sources as well as predators and threats.
Conclusion
Though it may appear random or haphazard, hummingbirds do not hang upside down without reason. This inverted posture serves many important functions for hummingbirds. Hanging upside down allows them to feed, rest, sleep, dry off, groom, scratch, regulate heat, mate, and scrutinize their surroundings. Upside down hanging is an intelligent behavior that aids hummingbird survival. So next time you see a hummingbird dangling by its feet, know that it’s just taking advantage of the unique benefits offered by this position.
