Why would a hummingbird lay on the ground?

Quick Answers

There are a few reasons why a hummingbird might be found laying on the ground:

• Exhaustion – Hummingbirds have very high metabolisms and tire easily. If a hummingbird cannot make it back to its nest, it may simply land on the ground to rest.
• Injury – Hummingbirds are small and fragile. If a hummingbird hits a window or is attacked by a predator, it can become injured and unable to fly back to its nest.
• Illness – Diseases and parasites can weaken a hummingbird over time. A sick hummingbird may lose the energy needed to fly and remain aloft.
• Nesting – In some cases, a female hummingbird may deliberately leave the nest to lay her eggs on the ground. This unusual behavior is not fully understood.

Finding a grounded hummingbird does not necessarily mean it is in distress. But it is best to avoid handling hummingbirds and let them recover on their own in most cases. If the bird appears visibly sick or injured, calling a wildlife rehabilitator is recommended.

Why Hummingbirds Get Exhausted

Hummingbirds have extremely high metabolisms for their small size. Their wings beat up to 70 times per second, and their hearts can reach over 1,200 beats per minute during flight. This rapid energy burn allows hummingbirds to hover in place and fly long distances while foraging.

However, the trade-off for this energetic lifestyle is that hummingbirds must consume large quantities of nutrient-rich nectar each day just to meet their basic energy needs. To power their metabolisms, hummingbirds eat roughly 2-3 times their body weight in nectar daily. If they cannot find enough flowers and food sources, they quickly become exhausted.

Some factors that can contribute to hummingbird exhaustion include:

• Not enough food availability – Lack of flowers, feeders, or other nectar sources will leave a hummingbird depleted.
• Migration – Long migrations are extremely taxing on a hummingbird’s energy reserves.
• Weather – Cold, wind, rain, and other inclement weather forces hummingbirds to use more energy to maintain their body heat and fly.
• Territorial behavior – Chasing intruders and defending territory burns extra energy.
• Nesting and breeding – Building a nest, mating, laying eggs, and raising young are very energetically expensive activities.

When exhausted, a hummingbird simply may not have enough sustained energy left to make it back to its nest or typical roosting spot. If a feeding ground is not nearby, the hummingbird will be forced to stop and rest wherever it ends up, including on the forest floor. This can leave them vulnerable until they regain enough strength to resume flight. Providing sugar water feeders, planting more flowers, and improving habitat can help reduce hummingbird exhaustion events in your area.

Common Injuries and Medical Issues

There are a number of common injuries and medical issues that could lead to a hummingbird becoming grounded. These include:

Broken Bones

Due to their small size, hummingbirds have extremely fragile bones that can break easily from impacts or falls. Broken wings and legs will prevent the bird from being able to fly. These injuries usually require rehabilitation.

Concussions

Flying into windows, trees, walls, or other objects can knock a hummingbird unconscious. The disorientation from a concussion could cause the hummingbird to fall to the ground where it remains until it regains awareness and strength. Keeping windows and surfaces more visible to birds can help prevent collision impacts.

Fatigue

As discussed previously, hummingbirds have very high metabolic rates and tire easily. Fatigue can ground a hummingbird as it tries to rest and recuperate before attempting further flight. Providing energy sources can help revive a fatigued hummingbird more quickly.

Nest Parasites

Nest mites and other parasites can infest and slowly weaken hummingbirds to the point that they no longer have the stamina to make it back to the nest each night. Anemia, emaciation, and lethargy are common symptoms of severe parasitic infections. Only a rehabilitator can provide treatment.

Metabolic Disorders

Problems with nutrient absorption and metabolism can leave hummingbirds lacking in energy. Conditions like hypoglycemia, egg binding, calcified tissue, and more may be suspected in a grounded bird. These require veterinary diagnosis and care.

Predator Attacks

Predators like hawks, cats, spiders, and praying mantises can injure hummingbirds during attacks. Injuries sustained while escaping predators are another cause of flight impairment. Careful monitoring and rehabilitation of wounds and lacerations are needed.

Why a Female May Lay Eggs on the Ground

In most cases, female hummingbirds carefully build delicate, cup-shaped nests up in trees or tucked under overhangs. However, occasionally a female hummingbird may lay her eggs directly on the forest floor or on low branches and shrubs instead. There are a few hypothesized reasons for this unusual behavior:

• Immaturity – Young female hummingbirds may not have a full nesting instinct. Their first attempts at nest building are sometimes on the ground.
• Lack of materials – Without access to soft plant down and spider silk, a female may resort to laying her eggs on the ground.
• Minimal energy – Building a full nest takes a lot of energy. Laying on the ground may occur if the female lacks enough resources.
• Predator avoidance – In some cases, a ground nest may protect the eggs better than one up in a tree.
• No mating – If a female has not successfully mated, she may still lay infertile eggs out of instinct.

Ground nests have significantly higher risks of predation, temperature extremes, flooding, and human interference. Very few grounded hummingbird eggs ultimately survive to hatching. However, the behavior shows the adaptability and resilience of hummingbirds attempting to breed even in suboptimal conditions. With maturity and access to materials, most females will build proper aerial nests during future breeding seasons.

Is a Grounded Hummingbird Necessarily in Distress?

Finding a normally airborne hummingbird sitting quietly on the ground certainly warrants concern. However, a grounded hummingbird may not always be in acute distress or require human intervention. Here are some ways to assess whether the bird needs help:

• Labored breathing – Rapid or heavy breathing can indicate injury, illness, or exhaustion in hummingbirds.
• Eyes closed – Healthy resting hummingbirds will remain alert with eyes open.
• Feathers fluffed up – Fluffing feathers to retain heat likely signals illness or weakness.
• No attempt to fly – Healthy hummingbirds will try to fly away if possible when approached.
• Dead insects – Scattered dead insects around the bird may mean it is too weak to catch live prey.
• No signs of predators – Ensure the bird does not appear to be placed in someone’s care.

If in doubt, call a wildlife rehabilitation center for guidance. Do not handle the bird, but you can provide sugar water in a low dish until help arrives. With proper rest and recovery time, many grounded hummingbirds are able to regain flight and be safely released.

What to Do if You Find a Grounded Hummingbird

If you find a hummingbird laying on the ground, follow these steps:

1. Assess – Carefully observe the bird’s condition and behavior before intervening. Does it appear injured, ill, or in distress?
2. Cover – Gently drape a light towel or t-shirt over the bird to provide warmth and dark safety.
3. Call for help – Contact a wildlife rehabilitator or avian vet for guidance and possible rescue.
4. Shelter – Place the bird in a ventilated box indoors away from pets and noise until an expert can pick it up.
5. Hydrate – Offer commercially available hummingbird nectar (never plain sugar water) in a shallow dish.
6. Monitor – Check on the bird every 15-20 minutes until care is transferred.
7. Release – Once recovered, follow directions on proper release timing and technique.

It is crucial to call in a wildlife professional whenever possible for hummingbird rescue rather than attempting rehabilitation on your own. With proper care, most grounded hummingbirds can fully recover and be successfully returned to the wild.

Preventative Measures to Reduce Grounded Hummingbirds

Here are some ways you can make your yard and surrounding habitat safer for hummingbirds to help lower instances of grounded birds:

• Install feeders – Providing a consistent nectar source can help minimize exhaustion.
• Supply clean water – A fountain or mister gives hummingbirds a place to bathe and drink.
• Plant native flowers – Diverse floral sources support foraging and natural diet.
• Eliminate pesticides – Chemicals reduce insects that hummingbirds rely on for food.
• Keep cats indoors – Pet predators pose a substantial threat to hummingbirds.
• Apply decals to windows – Prevent collisions by making glass more visible.
• Provide roosting boxes – Supplemental shelters give a place to rest overnight.
• Remove hazards – Take down abandoned string, wire, or netting that could trap birds.

With a few simple hummingbird-friendly practices, you can create a safer space that meets the needs of these special birds in your community. Their rapid metabolisms and high-energy lifestyles make hummingbirds especially prone to needing rest and rehabilitation at times, but we can help reduce these instances with proper care and habitat.

Conclusion

Discovering a grounded hummingbird can certainly be alarming at first glance. However, in many cases the bird simply needs some time to regain its strength before taking off again. Providing a safe space, hydration, and calling in experts allows most grounded hummingbirds to fully recover and return to the wild. Taking steps to prevent exhaustion, collisions, illness, and injuries can also help reduce incidents of grounded birds in your area. With some basic knowledge and care, we can support these energetic species to continue dazzling us with their hovering flight for years to come.