Hummingbirds are some of the most fascinating birds in the world. Their ability to hover and fly backwards sets them apart from other bird species. These tiny birds have captured the imagination of people for centuries. When it comes to nesting, hummingbirds have some unique preferences for which trees they like to build their tiny nests in.
With over 300 different species, hummingbirds are found exclusively in the Americas. Their name comes from the characteristic humming or buzzing sound their wings make as they beat up to 80 times per second. Hummingbirds have the fastest wing beat of any bird. This allows them to hover in place and fly backwards or upside down with ease. They can flap their wings 12-80 times per second depending on the specific activity.
These energetic birds have uniquely adapted traits to help them thrive. They have long slender bills that are perfect for drinking nectar from flowers. Their legs and feet are small and compact, but their wings are large and powerful. Hummingbirds need a lot of energy to power their beating wings which requires they eat often. They consume more than their own body weight in nectar each day and also eat small insects for protein.
When it comes to reproduction, hummingbirds perform elaborate courtship displays to attract mates. The males will perform aerial shows, flying in loops to catch the female’s attention. Once a female chooses a suitor, they will mate and then the female is left to build the nest and care for the eggs alone.
Nesting Behaviors
Hummingbird nests are tiny architectural marvels. They are made of plant down held together by spiderwebs with lichen added for camouflage. The nests are about 2 inches wide and may be precariously balanced on a tree limb, cliff edge, cactus, or other support structure.
Female hummingbirds are very particular when selecting materials for their nests. They carefully select the downy plant fibers that will cushion their eggs and easily adjust to a growing brood. Preferred materials include down from dandelions, thistles, and cottonwoods. Spider silk provides an elastic framework to allow the nest to expand without breaking.
Hummingbirds do not use twigs or hard construction materials to build their nests. Instead they rely on soft plant down that they can sculpt into a tiny cup-shaped cradle for their eggs. The nest must be elastic enough to expand and accommodate the growing hatchlings until they are ready to fly and leave the nest.
A female hummingbird will lay 2 pea-sized eggs in the nest, about the size of a coffee bean. The eggs are white with very little markings. She will incubate the eggs for 2 weeks before they hatch.
Preferred Nesting Trees
Hummingbirds nest in a variety of trees depending on their habitat and range. Here are some of the most popular trees hummingbirds like to nest in:
- Oaks – Oaks provide reliable shelter and good camouflage for hummingbird nests with their dense branches and leafy canopies. Oaks produce fibers and down for nest material.
- Maples – Maples attract insects that hummingbirds feed on. Their sap draws bugs which hummingbirds eat for protein. Maples have defensive sap to deter ants and protect nests.
- Willows – Willows produce the soft downy seeds preferred for nest building. Their branches provide cover over water where insects thrive.
- Cypress – Bald cypress trees provide excellent coverage for nests near swamps and wetlands where hummingbirds feed.
- Eucalyptus – In California, Anna’s hummingbirds nest almost exclusively in eucalyptus trees, which produce stringy bark and down.
- Mangroves – Mangroves in the tropics have adapted aerial roots perfect for supporting hummingbird nests above water.
Trees near flower gardens, meadows, streams, mountains, and other natural food sources are preferred by hummingbirds for nesting. The abundance of insects to eat and nectar from nearby flowers are key factors hummingbirds look for.
Hummingbirds can be found nesting in forests, woodlands, orchards, parks, and even urban areas where flowering ornamental trees are found. Sugar maple trees are a favorite when found within a hummingbird’s range as they provide nesting materials, attract bugs, and contain sap that deters ants.
Nest Placement
Hummingbird nests are built in various positions in trees for optimal protection and cover:
- Branches – Placing nests on top of branches allows them to rock in the wind like a hammock. They are built securely to the branch, often where two meet or branch off.
- Forks – Nesting in forks where branches divide provides stability and support on multiple sides.
- Leaves – Some nests are cleverly concealed among clusters of leaves or in the center of a young sapling.
- Hanging – Hanging nests have the advantage of thwarting predators and frees the nest to swing gently in the breeze.
- Cavities – Occasionally hummingbirds nest in the cavities of trees for shelter, likely an ancestral evolutionary nesting technique.
In addition to placement, hummingbirds may select nesting trees based on other defensive properties. Trees with sap or thorns can help deter crawling predators from reaching nests. Aerial nests also escape many snakes, rodents, and other climbing predators.
The camouflage provided by certain trees is another feature hummingbirds favor. Redwood, cypress, oak, and pine trees help disguise hummingbird nests in the uneven bark and clusters of needles or scales.
Hummingbirds exhibit an evolutionary instinct to seek out concealing nest sites to maximize survival of their vulnerable eggs and young. This leads them to adapt to a variety of trees and nesting positions.
Common Threats
Even well hidden hummingbird nests face threats from predators. Here are common predators hummingbird parents must watch out for:
Predator | Threat |
---|---|
Jays | Common in urban areas. Will steal eggs and young from nests. |
Squirrels | Chews apart nests built on branches and steals eggs. |
Snakes | Boa constrictors and certain snakes take eggs and chicks from nests. |
Owls | Powerful nocturnal hunters that can target hummingbirds at nests. |
Bees | Occasionally take over hummingbird nests built on trees or cacti. |
Hummingbird parents must remain vigilant while incubating eggs and raising nestlings. They may dive bomb or attempt to lure predators away from their nests. Building nests over water, in high branches, or concealed in leaves helps keep their eggs safe.
Unique Nest Adaptations
Different hummingbird species have adapted to nest in specialized conditions and locations. Some unique examples include:
- Cliff nesters – Some hummingbirds build saddle-shaped nests on sea cliffs where they cling to the rock face.
- Cactus nesters – Species like the cactus hummer nest in cacti where the spines help deter predators.
- Cup nesters – Orioles and jacobins weave elegant hanging nests with long fibrous strands.
- Platform nesters – Reed and lava nesters build nests on top of vegetation mats over water.
- Cavity nesters – Hermits use old woodpecker holes and other natural cavities on trees.
These techniques demonstrate the flexibility of hummingbirds to use diverse nesting locations. While specific species exhibit preferences, they will opportunistically choose a nesting tree that provides the right materials, protection, and proximity to food.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are highly selective when it comes to choosing where to build their tiny nests. While they can adapt to a range of trees and settings, they prefer ones that offer certain advantages. Ideal nesting trees provide protective cover, anchor points for support, and materials such as plant down for construction. Oaks, willows, cypress, and eucalyptus are top choices in their respective habitats.
Nests are built in strategic locations among leaves and branches to help avoid predators. Parent hummingbirds expend tremendous time and effort to build a secure nest in hopes of safely raising the next generation. Their specialized behaviors and adaptations allow hummingbirds to thrive in diverse environments across the Americas.