The bee hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world, with adults growing to only around 2 inches long and weighing less than 2 grams. These tiny birds are only found in Cuba. The female bee hummingbird lays her eggs in a delicately crafted cup nest, often made from plant down, spider silk and lichens. She will lay two tiny white eggs, each about the size of a coffee bean. After about 2 weeks of incubation, a tiny hummingbird chick will hatch out of one of the eggs, beginning its life journey. But what exactly happens when a bee hummingbird first emerges from its egg? Here is an overview of the hatching process and first hours of life for a newborn bee hummingbird.
Pipping the Egg
Hatching starts with the chick beginning to break out of its egg, a process called pipping. The chick will use its egg tooth, a sharp protrusion on the top of its beak, to begin cracking the shell from the inside. It will rotate its body inside the egg, using its egg tooth to pierce the shell in a circular pattern. This can take hours of effort before the initial hole, called the pip, is created.
Once the first pip is made, the chick can then start to push and peel the shell away. It will continue to use its egg tooth and body movements to enlarge the opening. More and more of the shell gets fractured and pushed aside as the hole gets bigger. It takes a lot of energy for the tiny chick to break its way out!
Emerging From the Egg
After creating a large enough opening, the damp, exhausted chick will finally emerge fully from the fractured egg. It will likely rest for a period to recover its energy before attempting to move around.
The chick will be almost featherless at this point, covered only in some light gray down. Its eyes will usually still be closed. Its body may be somewhat misshapen after being curled up inside the small egg. The umbilical cord will still be attached as well.
While drying off, the chick may call out with high-pitched cheeping sounds. This stimulates the mother hummingbird to give the chick its first feeding.
First Hours of Life
For the first day or two after hatching, the chick will remain safely in the nest being cared for by its mother. She will feed it frequently, providing nutrition in the form of regurgitated nectar and insects.
The chick’s body will quickly change and develop during these important first hours. Its body will round out to a proper shape. Fluffy down will grow to help regulate body temperature. Eyes will finally open to take in the sights of the world. The egg tooth will fall off after a few days.
After its strength builds up, the chick will become more active. It will start to crawl around the nest and flap its tiny wings. The wings will get bigger and flight feathers will begin to emerge within 2 weeks.
Leaving the Nest
Bee hummingbird chicks grow rapidly, fledging and leaving the nest after only about 3 weeks. The chick must quickly learn to fly, feed, and fend for itself.
Surviving the vulnerable first few weeks after hatching is vital for the chick’s development. The hatching process marks the start of the bee hummingbird’s speedy advancement to adulthood. Within a couple months, it can reach full maturity and begin breeding itself.
Key Facts About Bee Hummingbird Hatchlings
- Incubation period is 13-15 days
- Hatchling weighs 0.2 – 0.6 g
- Hatchling is around 1.5 – 2 cm long
- Eyes are closed at hatching
- Body has light gray downy feathers
- Beak has a sharp egg tooth
- Leaves nest at 18-23 days old
- Reaches sexual maturity at 2-3 months old
Detailed Timeline of Hatching Process
Time | Developmental Milestones |
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Day 1 |
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Day 1-2 |
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Day 2-5 |
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Day 18-23 |
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Conclusion
The hatching of a bee hummingbird marks a critical life transition. Emerging from an egg that is only 10 mm long, the damp newborn chick faces great challenges in its first hours of life. But with rapid development and care from its mother, this tiny bird is ready to leave the nest and take on the world in just 3 short weeks. The hatching process sets the chick on its path to becoming the smallest bird species on Earth.