Hummingbirds build a variety of nests depending on the species, location, and materials available. Most hummingbird nests are small, neat cups made of plant fibers, spider silk, lichen, moss, and even paper. The nests allow good airflow and drainage while providing shelter and camouflage for the eggs and chicks.
Typical Hummingbird Nest Features
While there is variation between species, most hummingbird nests share some common features:
- Cup or bowl shape – Nests are built as small cups to hold the eggs and chicks.
- Tiny size – Hummingbird nests range from 1-2 inches wide and tall to accommodate the small birds.
- Neat, compact structure – Nests are tightly woven with bindings to create a solid, secure home.
- Made of soft materials – Plant down, spider silk, lichen, moss, and feathers provide a comfortable lining.
- Camouflaged – Colors and materials help the nest blend into its surroundings.
- Well-drained and ventilated – Nests allow air and water flow to prevent mold or overheating.
- Placed in protected sites – Nest locations include trees, shrubs, branches, leaves, poles, or eaves.
Nest Locations
Hummingbirds may build nests in a variety of locations, both natural and manmade. Common sites include:
- Tree branches – Small, thin branches are common nest sites.
- Forks of branches – The joint of two branches provides support.
- Shrubs or vines – Bushes and vines offer cover.
- Logs or poles – Dead trees or fence posts are used.
- Eaves or rafters – Manmade structures often substitute for branches.
- Leaves – Some species build nests atop thick leaves.
- Cacti – Certain desert species nest in cacti.
- Cliffs – Sheltered rock ledges may hold nests.
When choosing a nesting spot, hummingbirds look for sites that offer protection from predators and extreme weather while also providing convenient access to food sources.
Predator Protection
Hummingbirds need safe nest locations to protect vulnerable eggs and chicks. Strategies include:
- Placing nests along thin branches or vines that don’t allow access to predators.
- Building nests up high in trees or under eaves beyond the reach of most predators.
- Concealing nests with vegetation to camouflage them.
- Selecting nest spots over or near water to deter land-based predators.
- Choosing thorny, poisonous, or unappealing plants that predators avoid.
- Adding materials like lichen or moss that help disguise the nest.
By carefully selecting nest locations and disguising nests, hummingbirds improve protection despite their small size.
Shelter from the Elements
Hummingbird nests provide insulation against weather and regulation of temperature and humidity. Features that aid shelter include:
- Cup shape to surround eggs/chicks.
- Tight weaving to resist wind and rain.
- Lining with soft down to maintain warmth and absorb moisture.
- Drainage holes in the bottom to prevent flooding.
- Airflow through sides to prevent overheating.
- Nest placement under eaves or dense foliage as added protection.
The well-built, compact structures allow hummingbirds to breed in diverse habitats from hot deserts to high mountain elevations.
Camouflage From Predators
Hummingbirds have evolved elaborate techniques to hide their nests including:
- Using nondescript materials like lichen, moss, and spider silk that resemble surroundings.
- Matching nest colors to the site such as green in trees or grey on rocks.
- Attaching nests to hanging vines or undersides of leaves to break up the nest’s shape.
- Decorating the nest exterior with bits of bark, leaves, or flower parts.
- Building very small nests that are harder to spot.
- Placing nests in the center of dense shrubs or trees.
This camouflage makes it challenging for predators to locate the well-hidden nests.
Types of Nest Materials
Hummingbirds are resourceful in utilizing available nest materials, which vary by species and location. Common materials include:
- Plant fibers and down – The most universal material used to shape the nest walls and provide a soft lining. Obtained from trees, shrubs, thistles, cattails, and more.
- Spider silk – Provides a strong, elastic binding material to weave the other fibers together.
- Lichen – Abundant in most environments. Used to coat the outside of nests for camouflage.
- Moss – Adds moisture-absorbing insulation and disguises nest shape.
- Feathers – Soft feathers line nests for warmth and cushioning.
- Leaves – Used whole or shredded to conceal nests in foliage.
- Buds, bark, needles – Other plant matter decorates the exterior.
- Twigs, roots – Provide structural support to intertwine with flexible fibers.
Hummingbirds utilize a wide array of plant and natural materials that reflect what’s available regionally and seasonally.
Notable Hummingbird Nests
Looking at specific hummingbird species provides examples of nest variations:
Calliope Hummingbird
- Tiny 1-inch diameter nests, the smallest of all hummingbirds.
- Situated high in coniferous trees in a small fork of branches.
- Exterior decorated with lichen and bark bits for camouflage.
Anna’s Hummingbird
- Well-disguised nests blending into branches and vegetation.
- Tree nests located 10-20 feet high on downward drooping thin branches.
- Also nests on poles, wires, and exterior building structures.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Nests often built on horizontal tree branches away from trunks.
- Constructed of bud scales, lichens, and bound with spider silk.
- White cottony plant down lines interior to cradle eggs.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Nest sizes as small as 1 inch tall and wide.
- Attached to high branches of trees along rivers or streams.
- Exterior decorated with paper, bark, and lichens for disguise.
Rufous Hummingbird
- Unique trademark use of mosses on exterior.
- Tree nests very high, up to 100 feet above ground.
- Also known to nest creatively on ledges, cliffs, and poles.
These examples demonstrate the techniques different hummingbird species use to build well-camouflaged, smartly-located nests adapted to their particular environments and nesting behaviors.
Nest Construction
Hummingbird nest construction is an intricate process:
- Selecting a site – The female chooses a location offering safety, shelter, and proximity to food.
- Gathering materials – Down, fibers, leaves, lichen, and spider silk are collected nearby.
- Shaping the nest walls – The female uses her body to mold interior fibers into a tiny cup shape.
- Weaving the exterior – Materials are tightly woven together using spider silk.
- Attaching the nest – The flexible walls adhere to branches and surfaces.
- Cushioning the interior – Soft down lines the inside as cushioning.
- Camouflaging the outside – The exterior is decorated with lichens and leaf bits.
- Inspecting for problems – Drainage, flexibility, and camouflage are assessed.
Building an intricately engineered nest is a demanding process driven by hummingbird instincts to create a secure home.
Duration of Use
A hummingbird nest is used for only a short time, often just one season:
- Nests are bred in and built for a single clutch of eggs, usually two per season.
- Once chicks fledge at 2-3 weeks old, they will not return to the nest.
- Wind, rain, and predators damage unoccupied nests.
- Females build a new nest each breeding season rather than reuse old nests.
The brief but intensive use period allows hummingbirds to adapt nest locations and materials as optimal sites and food sources vary.
Threats and Predators
Hummingbird nests face threats from both weather and predators:
- Wind can displace lighter nest materials and cause entire nests to detach from branches and fall.
- Rain can flood nests, cause mold, and flatten them against branches and surfaces.
- Tree trimming and human activities near nests may inadvertently displace or destroy them.
- Jays are known to raid hummingbird nests for eggs and chicks.
- Squirrels and chipmunks climb branches and vines to reach nests.
- Owls hunt adult hummingbirds but may also opportunistically take eggs and chicks.
- Snakes, especially arboreals ones like tree boas, pose threats.
These factors make proper nest concealment and placement critical to avoiding predation and exposure risks.
Benefits of Different Nest Types
Different nesting strategies have unique advantages:
- Tree nests provide height safety from many ground predators.
- Shrub nests allow safety through density of vegetation.
- Vine nests are concealed by trailing foliage.
- Eave nests offer shelter plus proximity to feeders.
- Leaf nests provide overhead camouflage and protection.
- Cactus nests utilize thorns for defense in desert conditions.
- Cliff nests are inaccessible to most animals.
Choosing a nest type and location allows hummingbirds to best avoid different threats based on their environments.
Notable Research
Scientific research on hummingbird nesting behavior has revealed interesting facts:
- One study tracked Anna’s hummingbird nest positions and found the majority were located on downward drooping thin branches, likely to deter predators.
- Research on Black-chinned hummingbirds showed males and females work together to determine nest locations, with males playing an active role.
- Experiments on Blue-throated hummingbirds demonstrated that males preferentially choose thicker, more robust nest materials during construction.
- One examination of Ruby-throated hummingbird nest composition found the tiny structures weigh only 6-12 grams on average.
- Studies monitoring hummingbird nests with cameras gain insights into incubation habits, predator threats, and feeding behaviors.
Continued research reveals more about the nuances of hummingbird nesting preferences, site selection behaviors, and construction techniques.
In Conclusion
Hummingbirds display amazing engineering and adaptation when building their petite but well-constructed nests. Size, materials, location, and physical features allow hummingbird nests to keep eggs and chicks securely sheltered. Understanding how different hummingbird species craft the perfect nests for their needs provides a glimpse into the intricate behaviors behind these remarkable birds.
