Hummingbirds go through an incredible transformation from egg to hatchling to fledgling. Here is a look at the key stages and events after hummingbirds hatch from their eggs.
Hatching
Hummingbird eggs hatch after an incubation period of 14-23 days. The chick starts the hatching process by poking a hole in the egg with its egg tooth, a sharp projection on its beak. It can take 12-36 hours from the initial pipping to fully emerge from the egg.
Newly hatched chicks are blind, naked, and completely helpless. They rely on their mother for warmth, protection, and food. At this stage, their eyes are fused shut and they have only a little downy fuzz on their bodies.
First week after hatching
In the first week after hatching, hummingbird chicks grow incredibly fast thanks to their high-calorie liquid diet. Their weight can increase by up to 300% in the first week alone!
Other developments in the first week include:
- Eyes start to open at around 3-5 days
- Natal down grows to help regulate body temperature
- Wings start to take shape and feathers emerge
By day 7, the chick’s eyes are usually fully open. It starts to look more like an adult hummingbird, with emerging wing and tail feathers.
Weeks 2-3
In weeks 2 and 3, hummingbird chicks continue growing at a rapid rate. Their feathers fill out, though their tails will still be quite short.
Other changes in this period include:
- Body size increases to nearly adult dimensions
- Flight feathers grow on the wings
- Chicks become more alert and active in the nest
- Primary wing feathers start to emerge by the end of week 3
By the third week, the chick is ready to start venturing out of the nest. Its feet and legs have gotten stronger to grip onto branches.
Fledging
Fledging is the stage when chicks take their first flight out of the nest. This usually occurs between 18-28 days after hatching.
To prepare for fledging, chicks will flap their wings in the nest and strengthen their flight muscles. They gain the ability to hover briefly inside the nest before taking the big leap.
The first flight is awkward and fluttering. The young bird may lose height or balance initially. But within a day or two, their flying skills improve dramatically.
First flights and independence
After fledging, young hummingbirds will continue honing their flying abilities. They learn to fly forward, upward, hover, and may practice chasing after their mother.
During this post-fledging period, the mother still provides some care, feeding the chicks as they learn to forage. But the chicks rapidly gain independence over the next 2-3 weeks.
By 6-8 weeks of age, most young hummingbirds are fully independent. Their key milestones include:
- Flying competently, including backward motion
- Able to feed themselves from flowers
- Molting into adult plumage
- Storing fat for migration in some species
The incredible speed of hummingbird development means they can go from hatchling to independent juvenile in just a matter of weeks!
Migration
The next big challenge for many young hummingbirds is their first migration. Migration allows hummingbirds to follow flower blooms and other food sources.
In their first migration, fledglings fly during the day and rest at night. This allows them to learn routes and stopover spots from experienced adult birds. Some key facts about hummingbird migration:
- Young ruby-throated hummingbirds may migrate over 2000 miles between Canada and Mexico.
- Some species fly non-stop over the Gulf of Mexico, a 500+ mile journey.
- Hummingbirds double their weight before migration to store fat reserves for the energy-intensive journey.
- They prefer to migrate in late summer and early fall when flowers are still abundant.
Through their first migration, young hummingbirds can complete an epic journey and continue maturing into their adult life cycles.
Maturation
Once they arrive at their winter grounds or breeding areas, young hummingbirds continue to mature over the next year.
Some key aspects of maturation include:
- Replacing any remaining juvenile plumage with adult feathers
- Developing courtship behaviors if they are males
- Learning to defend territory and food sources
- Improving foraging techniques such as traplining
Most hummingbirds reach sexual maturity by 1 year old. At this point, they can begin breeding and the cycle starts over again.
Summary of key post-hatching stages
Here’s a quick overview of the major developmental stages after hummingbirds hatch:
Stage | Timeframe | Key Developments |
---|---|---|
Hatching | Day 1 | Emerge from egg, eyes fused shut |
Early development | Week 1 | Rapid growth, eyes open, down emerges |
Feather development | Weeks 2-3 | Feathers fill in, flight feathers grow |
Fledging | Weeks 3-4 | First flight from nest |
Independence | Weeks 4-8 | Hone flying skills, self-feeding |
Migration | Late summer/fall | Complete first migration |
Maturation | Up to 1 year | Reach sexual maturity |
This table summarizes the rapid growth and development that takes place in a hummingbird’s first year of life after hatching.
Feeding behavior
A key part of hummingbird development is mastering the specialized feeding behaviors that allow them to thrive.
Here are some fascinating facts about how hummingbirds learn to feed after hatching:
- Chicks start off drinking regurgitated “bug milk” from their mother, obtaining essential proteins.
- By 2-3 weeks, chicks supplement feedings with nectar for more energy.
- Young hummingbirds have tongues specially adapted to lap up nectar.
- Their long, specially-adapted tongues pump nectar into their throats at a rate of 13-17 licks per second!
- By 4 weeks, young hummingbirds feed themselves by licking up nectar from flowers.
- They learn to hover in place and use their slender beaks to reach nectar.
- Young hummingbirds also start catching insects mid-air for essential proteins.
This specialized feeding behavior allows hummingbirds to master an energy-rich diet of nectar and insects as they mature.
Plumage development
Young hummingbirds go through dramatic changes in their plumage from hatchlings to fledglings to adults. Here’s an overview:
- Hatchlings – Covered in wispy down feathers. Buff-colored and largely unpatterned.
- Fledglings – Develop juvenile plumage by 3-4 weeks. Resemble adult plumage but with fewer bright colors.
- Juveniles – Around 6-8 weeks old, juveniles molt into nearly adult-looking plumage.
- Adults – By one year old, most hummingbirds molt again into their final adult plumage with bright, distinctive colors.
The speed of hummingbird growth means they can develop from a naked hatchling into a brightly-colored adult in a matter of months!
Survival challenges
Young hummingbirds face high mortality rates, with some estimates that just 1-5% of hatchlings survive to adulthood. Here are some key threats hummingbird chicks and fledglings face:
- Predators – Snakes, lizards, squirrels, and birds of prey may raid nests for eggs or chicks.
- Starvation – Chicks can starve if the mother fails to provide enough nutrition.
- Severe weather – Rainstorms, wind, or cold temperatures may expose chicks.
- Collisions – Young hummingbirds learning to fly are vulnerable to crashes.
- Disease – Bacterial, viral, or fungal diseases can be passed to chicks.
Given these many threats, surviving the first year of life is a major accomplishment for wild hummingbirds.
Key behaviors after leaving the nest
In the first weeks and months after fledging, young hummingbirds hone skills that allow them to thrive, including:
Flight
- High-speed flying, hovering, and rapid course changes
- Backing up, rotating, and aerial maneuvers
- Slow, energy-efficient flight for migration
Foraging
- Feeding while hovering at flowers
- Lapping nectar with a rapid tongue flick rate
- Using vision and smell to locate nectar sources
- Catching insects in midair
Navigation
- Remembering beneficial flower locations
- Orienting using landmarks, the sun, and geomagnetism
- Learning migration routes and stopover sites
Social
- Interacting with other hummingbirds at flowers and feeders
- Establishing dominance and defending territory
- Courting behaviors in mature males
Mastering these essential behaviors helps young hummingbirds thrive after leaving the safety of the nest.
Summary
In their first year of life after hatching, hummingbirds undergo a remarkable and rapid transformation. Key stages include hatching, fledging, completing their first migration, and reaching sexual maturity. Along the way, they master specialized behaviors like flight, feeding, navigation, and social interactions.
While the journey is fraught with peril, the dazzling maturity of adult hummingbirds is a testament to the incredible pace of their early development. In just a matter of weeks, they grow from helpless hatchlings into expert hoverers, migrators, and foragers.