Hummingbirds are owned or cared for by a variety of individuals and organizations. In the wild, hummingbirds are free-living and not considered to be “owned” by anyone. However, there are some contexts in which hummingbirds interact with and rely on humans in a sort of custodial relationship.
Hummingbird Rescue and Rehabilitation
There are many hummingbird rescue and rehabilitation organizations across North America that care for sick, injured or orphaned hummingbirds. These groups are often non-profit organizations run by volunteers who specialize in hummingbird medicine and rehabilitation techniques. When caring for a hummingbird, the organization essentially takes temporary “ownership” and provides housing, food, and medical treatment with the goal of releasing the bird back into the wild when healthy.
Some of the most well known hummingbird rescue and rehab organizations in the United States include:
- Hummingbird Rehabilitation, Santa Monica, California
- South Carolina Hummingbird Rescue, New Ellenton, South Carolina
- Louisiana Hummingbird Rescue, Minden, Louisiana
- Hummingbird Helper, Maple Valley, Washington
There are also many smaller independent hummingbird rehabilitators around the country who work out of their homes or veterinary clinics.
Veterinary Clinics
If an injured hummingbird is brought into a veterinary clinic, the clinic essentially takes over the bird’s care and any sort of “ownership” responsibilities while nursing it back to health. Avian veterinarians have specialized training to provide medical care to hummingbirds and other birds.
Zoos and Nature Centers
Some zoos and nature centers have captive hummingbirds as part of educational exhibits and displays. In these cases, the institution takes full responsibility for the hummingbirds’ care and housing. While not as common as exhibits featuring larger bird species, a number of facilities highlight hummingbirds and their unique attributes as part of tropical displays and aviaries. Some zoos may also take in rehabbed hummingbirds that cannot be released back to the wild.
Hummingbird Banding
An important context where hummingbirds have a close relationship with particular humans is during scientific bird banding projects. Hummingbird banding involves temporarily capturing wild hummingbirds in order to attach a small numbered metal or plastic band on their leg for tracking and research purposes. Once banded, information on the hummingbird’s location, age, sex, etc can be logged over time as it is recaptured. Banding allows detailed study of hummingbird movement, survival rates, and population trends.
Only permitted hummingbird banding specialists are authorized to capture and band hummingbirds. This requires specialized training on safe trapping and handling procedures. While in the hand, the hummingbird is reliant on the human bander to quickly take measurements and apply the band before safe release.
Two of the most prominent hummingbird banding projects in North America are run by:
- Hummingbird Monitoring Network – Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Colorado
- HummerBird Banding Study – California Polytechnic State University
There are also many independent and amateur hummingbird banders who contribute data to research groups.
Captive Hummingbirds as Pets
It is illegal to keep a hummingbird as a personal pet in the United States under the Migratory Bird Act without special permit. However, people have tried to keep hummingbirds as pets both legally and illegally over time. There are a few places in the world where captive hummingbirds are a cultural practice.
French Guiana and Suriname
In French Guiana and Suriname, people have traditionally kept captive hummingbirds in small cages as pets. Several local species like the Green-tailed Goldenthroat, White-necked Jacobin, and Rufous-throated Sapphire are commonly kept. The practice dates back to efforts by early European colonists to export exotic bird species from the Americas back to Europe. It continues today mainly for local enjoyment of their bright colors, with some use in rituals or folk medicine.
| Species | Native Range |
|---|---|
| Green-tailed Goldenthroat | Northern South America |
| White-necked Jacobin | South America |
| Rufous-throated Sapphire | Northern South America |
Keeping hummingbirds in small cages limits their natural behaviors like flying over large territories to forage. As awareness of animal welfare grows, the practice of keeping wild hummingbirds as pets has declined but not disappeared entirely.
The United States
In the past, some Americans also kept hummingbirds as pets before it was made illegal without a permit. During the Victorian era it was a fad for upper class women to wear exotic feathers like hummingbirds in their hats and clothing. Vast numbers of hummingbirds were shot or captured to supply this demand. The few people who still have permits today typically use the hummingbirds for educational purposes or entertainment.
The special permits in the U.S. only allow captive hummingbirds to be kept for specific reasons such as research, rehabilitation, or educational display. The hummingbirds still require large aviaries and specialized care. People who illegally capture wild hummingbirds or keep them as pets could face steep fines under wildlife protection laws.
Commercial Breeding
There are a small number of commercial operations that legally breed hummingbirds in controlled settings on a limited basis. These are located outside the U.S. in regions where it is allowed under law. The birds are typically bred for sale to zoos, private collectors, and suppliers for entertainment venues.
Two of the largest commercial hummingbird breeding facilities are:
- Rainforest Flora Inc. – Canada
- Vida Verde Corp. – Panama
Commercial breeding of hummingbirds remains controversial. Supporters argue it takes pressure off wild populations, while critics contend it encourages theoverall practice of keeping hummingbirds captive.
Conclusion
While individual ownership of pet hummingbirds is limited, many people and institutions still care for hummingbirds in rehab, research, education, and entertainment. The health and welfare of hummingbirds in these contexts depends on specialized facilities and diligent caretakers providing proper diet, housing, and medical care. Most hummingbirds in captivity ultimately came from the wild and natural habitats remain critical for their future survival as a species.
