Hummingbird nests: Everything you want to know

Last Updated on January 5, 2024 by Greg Gillson

Hummingbirds are the world’s smallest birds. Everything about hummingbirds is tiny–even their nests!

In this article I’m going to take you through the hummingbird nesting season, concentrating on the nest itself, as much as possible. 

We’ll look at the placement and construction of the nest. We’ll talk about the hummingbird eggs and nestlings. Then we’ll finish up telling you how to find hummingbird nests and attract hummingbirds to your yard for nesting

First, though, you must understand this important aspect of hummingbird nesting…

           Allen’s Hummingbird Nest by Mike

The female hummingbird does all the work!

In the bird world there are all sorts of parenting arrangements. For hummingbirds, though, the bejeweled male guards the flowers and fights over the feeder. His one purpose in life is combating the other males and looking marvelous. If the female selects him to fertilize her eggs, then he’s done. He’s served his purpose. That’s the last they see of each other.

Some people wonder about the elaborate courtship flights of the males. The males do an aerial dance consisting of high flights, dives, and back-and-forth arcs flying maybe 100 feet across.

This makes some people wonder if mating actually takes place in flight. The answer is either no, or rarely. Most of the time copulation takes place while the female is sitting on a branch for the very brief (3-5 seconds) touch. There are reports, however, claiming to have observed in-flight copulation (by R. S. Woods in Bent’s Life History of North American Birds in 1940). I can find no recent research on this subject.

After mating, the female flies off to start nesting while the male stays by the flowers and admires himself! Well,… okay, he continues guarding the feeding flowers, chasing off other males, and trying to attract other females to mate with him.

That means that, no, hummingbirds do not mate for life. They don’t even stick together for the nesting season!

The female hummingbird builds the nest. The female sits on the eggs and incubates them. She feeds all the nestlings after they hatch.

The “father” hummingbird doesn’t help build the nest. The male hummingbird does not sit on the nest to incubate the eggs. He does not help feed the chicks. He is nowhere around!

 

Photo of female Anna's Hummingbird on a nest
Female Anna’s Hummingbird on nest
Photo by Greg Gillson

The hummingbird nesting season overview

The nesting season for hummingbirds depends upon the species. I’ll consider a few that nest in the United States.

For year-round residents, such as the Anna’s Hummingbird on the West Coast, breeding season may start as early as October and continue through August. It is not unusual to have nests with eggs in December and January! However, the main time for eggs is February through mid-May.

For migrant hummingbirds, males arrive on feeding territories 2-3 weeks before the females.
In the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, the common migratory hummingbird is the Rufous Hummingbird. It nests primarily from April to July.

Three days. About 3 days after the female Rufous Hummingbird arrives from Mexico to the breeding grounds she has bred with the male and starts nest construction (source). That’s amazing!

In the East, the only nesting hummingbird is Ruby-throated Hummingbird. They have nests with eggs primarily between the months of March and July, depending upon how far north they live.

Hummingbirds typically raise 1-2 broods of young in a nesting season. Only rarely would a hummingbird lay eggs 3 times in a year.

Placement of hummingbird nests

Hummingbirds build their nests in bushes, vines, weed stalks, or in branches of trees. Allen’s, Rufous, and Calliope Hummingbirds often place their nests in conifers. The Blue-throated Hummingbird builds its nests on flowering plants and ferns. Other hummingbirds aren’t as picky.

How high do hummingbirds build their nests? Here are some nest height ranges for a few species: 1-90 feet above ground (Allen’s), 2-70 feet (Calliope), 5-20 feet (Ruby-throated), 5-50 (Rufous), 4-8 feet above the ground (Black-chinned), 1-9 feet (Costa’s).

It seems hummingbirds will nest at any height above the ground they can find a good location. Perhaps the availability of tall trees for nesting limits the heights of some species. They do not nest on the ground itself, though often can be quite low. 

Most hummingbirds build their nests so that they are well shaded.

Female hummingbirds defend the area around their nest vigorously from other hummingbirds–male and female alike. Thus, though I can find no information on this, I suspect that hummingbirds may not build their nest in a yard with active hummingbird feeders. (Now someone, please, prove me wrong! Let me know in the comments.) [I received one comment that a female built her nest near a feeder and drove off all the other hummingbirds!]

It seems that most migrant hummingbirds return to the same area to nest every year. 

One question that many people ask is: Do hummingbirds reuse their nests? The nests are so fragile that they often barely last through one brood. Most hummingbirds build new nests each nesting attempt. 

It takes about 5 days for the hummingbird to build a nest. Some hummingbirds may build a new nest on whatever is left of the old nest, however. The Blue-throated Hummingbird is noted to reuse the same nest, with repairs, for several years in a row.

   Anna’s Hummingbird by FA Seidman

The materials and construction of hummingbird nests

Female hummingbirds will use whatever fluffy plant material she can find to build her nest.

Most hummingbirds use fluffy weed seed material such as thistle down to make their cup-like nests. Some species build their nest with bits of leaves, dried plant stems, moss, down feathers, or grass. Most species decorate or camouflage the outside of their nests with lichens and sometimes bark shreds. Hummingbirds use spider silk to bind the nest together to the branch!

Most hummingbirds make the nest by adding material and then trampling the middle down. Others build the floor first and then build up the walls in layers around them. It usually takes about 5 days for the mother hummingbird to construct the nest.

Different species place the nest in different parts of plants or branches. Nests can be built on the side of a twig or hanging from twigs. Most-frequently, hummingbirds place their nest like a saddle across a single horizontal branch. Other times they build their nest in a forked limb.

Sometimes hummingbirds build their nests in very unusual places! Rufous Hummingbirds have built nests inside sheds on knots of hanging rope and wires to electric lights! Blue-throated Hummingbirds may place their nests under eaves, bridges, and inside buildings. Anna’s Hummingbirds sometimes place nests on cliffs and utility wires.

How big are these nests? You mean, how small are these nests? 

The larger Blue-throated Hummingbird builds a nest about 2-1/2 inches wide and 3 inches tall. That’s pretty big for a hummingbird nest! 

The Broad-billed Hummingbird isn’t much smaller, but builds a much tinier nest. It has an inside diameter of only 3/4 of an inch. 

The Black-chinned Hummingbird builds a nest only 1-1/2 inches across and 1 inch tall. 

The tiny Calliope Hummingbird builds a nest about the same size. 

The medium-sized Ruby-throated Hummingbird builds a tiny nest only 1 inch or 1-1/4 inches across in size.

These nests look like a little white knot or bulge on a branch. It could look as if some cotton fuzz is caught on the branch. Those with lichens on the outside are camouflaged so that they blend right into the branch. Nests may be easier to see if they are in a tree branch above you. They are often hidden under leaves from above. If they are in a small bush you may not see the nest unless you are doing some pruning and then, oh no! Such may happen pruning roses in January or February in the West when Anna’s Hummingbirds may be nesting.

 

Hummingbird nest and eggs
Image by Astrid Zamora from Pixabay

Hummingbird eggs and nestlings

Many people have tried to describe just how small hummingbird eggs are. They say they are the size of small peas. One of the best descriptions of what a hummingbird nest with eggs looks like is this. A hummingbird nest with eggs is the size of a half walnut shell with 2 white tic-tac breath mints in them!

Most hummingbirds lay 2 eggs. They occasionally lay only 1 egg, very rarely are 3 eggs laid.

Hummingbird eggs are white and oblong. They are very small. The eggs of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Rufous Hummingbirds, and the Anna’s Hummingbirds all measure about 0.55 inches (1.3 cm) long and 0.3 inches (0.8 cm) wide. The eggs of Calliope Hummingbird are a bit shorter.

Mother hummingbirds incubate their eggs in the nest from 15-18 days until they hatch.

Hatchlings are born naked with eyes closed. They have pointed but shorter beaks. At first they seem so tiny, fragile and helpless that it is amazing they can even raise their heads to beg for food. They grow fast though! Remember, these little chicks hatched out of an egg the size of a small bean! They are incomprehensively tiny!

During this time the mother must feeder herself and her young. Hummingbirds must eat almost continuously during the day. But she must also find insects to regurgitate for her young all day, too. At night the hummingbirds sleep in the nest and do not eat.

Hummingbird chicks stay in the nest about 3 weeks. About 20-23 days after hatching the young birds fledge from the nest and fly away! Some hummingbird mothers feed their young outside the nest for a few days.

Photo of female Allen's Hummingbird in a bush
Female Allen’s Hummingbird
Photo by Greg Gillson

How to find hummingbird nests

For most people, finding hummingbird nests is usually a matter of luck. It is rare to find one. But it takes work to find more than one! Did I say work? Really, it takes patience. In our distracted world patience is work!

It’s hard to find most birds nests. The nest with eggs or young is so vulnerable to predators. So most birds, including hummingbirds, go to great lengths to hide their nests. Often, if a bird knows you are watching, they won’t go near the nest.

Remember that female hummingbirds guard their nesting area. They attack all other hummingbirds in their territory and drive them out–male or female. This means that hummingbird nests are not usually near each other. So you might fortuitously find one nest in your yard. But you are unlikely to find another nearby.

To actively find hummingbird nests it is easier to find them being constructed than already built. Once built, it is easier to find hummingbird nests with chicks than eggs. Let me explain why.

Female hummingbirds take up to 5 days to build a nest. During this time they are searching for fluffy plant seeds and similar material. So they are investigating both fuzzy weeds and trees. Cottonwoods, aspens, poplars, willows, and others have fluffy seeds that hummingbirds will use in their nests.

If you look for hummingbirds in wood edges that include these tree species you may find female hummingbirds gathering up bills full of fluff. Then follow her back to where she is building her nest.

The female is quite active while building her nest. She is rearranging the plant fibers, trampling the center, flipping around to the other side. Lots of movement.

Once the eggs are laid, though, she sits tight on the nest, incubating the eggs. She sneaks off to eat every once in a while. But this is a quiet time at the nest. So it is hard to find hummingbird nests then. You are actually looking for the nest. The rest of the time you are looking for the mother hummingbird and following her movements back to the nest.

Once the eggs hatch the female hummingbird spends 3 hectic weeks feeding her hungry young. Especially as the chicks are older and larger do they demand more food. Mom is flying back and forth to the nest every couple minutes!

Like I said, if you want to find a hummingbird nest it will take patience!

How to attract hummingbirds to nest in your yard

Hummingbirds want lots of dense foliage to nest in. Hummingbirds may nest in your yard in rose bushes or other dense shrubs, especially with thorns, it seems.

Because nesting hummingbirds are so territorial, they probably won’t nest in a yard with lots of other hummingbirds. You have to decide. Do you want to have several feeders with lots of hummingbirds buzzing about? Or do you want a quiet retreat where one hummingbird can nest? You probably can’t have both. At most, it would seem a single hummingbird feeder is allowable in a yard where a hummingbird can nest successfully.

You may be able to provide the fuzzy nesting materials for hummingbirds to build their nests. In this case, put out small bits of cotton fibers. Tear a cotton ball or batting into many small pieces. Hang these from a fence or other easily-seen location. It has to be easy for the hummingbird to take, but not blow away in the wind. How about putting cotton fiber shreds in an onion bag or clean suet feeder cage to hold the nesting materials?

Don’t use drier lint to offer birds as nesting material! These artificial fibers aren’t good and may contain residues of detergents and fabric softener chemicals.

Put out nesting material in early spring (March) and leave it out until about August.

Protecting hummingbird nests

Sometimes hummingbirds may place their nests in a location that seems sure to fail. And it might. First time nesting birds often fail. But they do gain experience with subsequent nesting attempts.

Most hummingbird chicks do not live to adulthood. 

Think about it. Two eggs. Two broods per year. That is 4 young per year. Hummingbirds probably live an average of 4 years. One pair the first year leads to 6 birds in year two, that’s 3 breeding pair. That’s 12 eggs in year two. Plus the previous 6 birds is 9 breeding pairs. 36 eggs in year 3. Plus 18 previous birds. In year 4 the first pair dies. But if all eggs hatch and all grow up to breed in 4 years they would have 52 descendants and lay over 100 eggs in year 4.

Obviously, this doesn’t happen. If the population is stable it means that 2 offspring every 4 years live to adulthood and replace the original pair. On average. Less than that and they go extinct eventually. More than that they take over the world.

All this is a long-winded way of saying that most hummingbird nesting attempts fail to raise birds to adulthood. In hummingbirds that is one year old.

   Ruby-throated Hummingbird by jeffreyw

You can try to protect hummingbird nests. But realistically, many are going to fail. Be prepared.

It is hard to protect hummingbirds from nest predators. The predators include house cats, squirrels, rats, jays, crows, snakes. Keeping the nest hidden in a bush is the best protection. That’s why hummingbird nests are often camouflaged with lichens and pieces of bark to match the branch.

One way birds reduce the risk of nest predators is to hatch the eggs and get the young fledged and out on their own as soon as possible. Many birds incubate for 2 weeks and have chicks in the nest 2 weeks and they are grown. Hummingbirds take longer, as we’ve already discussed. 2-1/2 weeks of incubation. 3 weeks of nestlings. Keeping the nest hidden is a priority.

But the biggest hummingbird nest predator is people. We often find nests when trimming bushes. Or, if we find a nest we keep checking up on it. This can stress the mother hummingbird. But it can also lead other predators to the nest if we trample a path or bend back a branch to see.

Our “love” for birds has led to laws to protect birds from us.

Hummingbirds, their feathers, their nests, and their eggs are protected by law, as with all other birds except starlings and house sparrows. As much as you are tempted to remove the cute little nests after the breeding season, don’t do it.

Wrapping Up

Once the hummingbird eggs have been laid, the wonder doesn’t finish. Hummingbirds typically lay two tiny white eggs, no bigger than peas. Incubation is solely handled by the female, lasting around 12-14 days.

During incubation, the female hummingbird remains close to the nest, occasionally leaving for quick feeding breaks. Her tiny size allows her to snuggle inside the nest to keep the eggs warm.

Hummingbird chicks hatch blind and featherless, completely dependent on their mother for food and warmth. The female tirelessly feeds them a nectar and insect mixture through her long bill, visiting the nest hundreds of times a day.

Within days, the chicks develop fuzzy feathers and begin to open their eyes. By two weeks, they’re almost fully feathered and ready to fledge the nest.

Unfortunately, hummingbird nests are vulnerable to predators like squirrels, snakes, and other birds. Weather can also pose challenges, with strong winds or heavy rain potentially damaging the nest or harming the chicks.

Despite these threats, hummingbirds exhibit remarkable resilience in raising their young. Their rapid breeding cycle and dedication to parental care allows them to successfully raise multiple broods each season.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do hummingbird babies stay in the nest?

The time hummingbird babies stay in the nest after hatching can vary depending on the species and individual circumstances. However, there’s a general timeframe to keep in mind:

11- 13 days is the typical range for hummingbird chicks to stay in the nest as nestlings. During this time, they are completely dependent on their mother for food and warmth, growing rapidly and developing their feathers.

At hatching, hummingbird chicks are blind and featherless, relying on their mother’s constant care to survive. They grow quickly, though, opening their eyes around day 6 and starting to develop feathers soon after.

What happens when hummingbird chicks are big enough to leave the nest?

By 18-22 days, most hummingbird chicks are ready to fledge the nest. This means they can fly and start feeding themselves. However, they may still return to the nest for occasional feedings from their mother for a few days.

The fledge is a remarkable moment as these tiny creatures take their first flight, venturing out into the world on their own. It’s a testament to the rapid development and incredible adaptations of these fascinating birds.

How do hummingbird chicks survive predators?

Hummingbirds meticulously choose safe locations for their nests, often tucked away on concealed branches or hidden within dense foliage. This natural camouflage makes them less visible to potential predators.

The intricate weaving of moss, lichen, and feathers in the nest blends seamlessly with the surrounding environment, further disguising the nest and its occupants.

The incredibly small size of hummingbird chicks makes them difficult for some predators to catch or even locate. Their movement within the nest is also minimal, reducing their chances of attracting unwanted attention.

Unlike many other bird chicks, hummingbirds remain remarkably quiet in the nest. This stealthy approach avoids alerting predators to their presence.

Hummingbird mothers dedicate themselves to protecting their chicks. They constantly watch for danger, sounding alarm calls and even engaging in aggressive mobbing behavior to deter predators.

Mothers may feign injury or lead predators away from the nest by purposefully flitting in another direction, drawing the attention away from the vulnerable chicks.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

You may like: Why won’t hummingbirds come to my feeder?

Comments 91
  1. The baby HBs flew from the nest last week. The nest was within 10 ft of the HB feeder. Two years ago we had a nest affixed to a string of patio lights

  2. That's wonderful, Larry!

    These are almost certainly Anna's Hummingbirds, year-round residents on the West Coast.

    The male Rufous Hummingbirds are just starting to arrive in our area in western Washington. I'm still waiting to spot my first one for the year.

  3. I have a hummingbird nest in my back yard and love watching her, is it safe to mow the lawn below?, I don't want to upset the mama

  4. Yes, I think it is safe to mow your lawn. Especially once the eggs hatch, the mother will not easily abandon the nest.

  5. We had a nest built on a windchime under our back patio awning. After not seeing the momma all day I checked the nest and the eggs were smashed, would the mama do that if she's stressed? And should we leave the nest where it is in case she comes back, or is that unlikely due to the egg distruction?

  6. Oh, that's too bad.

    I'd leave it for a week and see what happens. She may try to build another nest, perhaps on top of the old one.

  7. I have four very active humming bird feeders. One particular humming bird, (which I named Honey) was scouting the area often and watching my house. I have a lantern connected to a series of chains hanging from the roof of my porch, and it began standing there for quite some time, just looking around. I didn't think too much of it and thought it was a bird that was just rather dumb and couldn't find the feeder. But after some while, I saw that it kept bringing stems and cotton, soon I found out it was building a nest! And I had clear vision on it too; it was right outside my window. Since then I have barely seen any humming birds come to the feeder, and when it does, 'Honey' gets right up for the nest and swarms at them, chasing them away. The nest is fully done, I even installed a camera above the nest to get even better glimpses. So excited for the future.

  8. We have a nest with eggs in a tree( in a planter)on our patio. To protect the nest I moved the planter away from the fence.The hummingbird is constantly looking in my sliding door now, flying irratcally but still going to her nest. I hope she doesn't abandon her eggs because of what I did trying to protect them from the squirrels..

  9. It is risky moving a nest. Doesn't sound like she's abandoned it.

    She may be seeing her reflection in the glass, and may think its an intruder.

  10. I currently have a humming bird nest in my yard. She built it on a flimsy Branch. In the fork. I noticed it being built about Two weeks ago.rShe kept buzzing around my head. As the nest is right by my door to my house. Eventually she trusted me. Now she’s sitting in her nest incubating her eggs. It’s so cool to have her so close and trust me.

  11. I’ve got a nest outside, and the mother always came back at night to brood, as they do, but tonight she hasn’t been back and I’m starting to get worried?

  12. I’ve got a nest outside, and the mother always came back at night to brood, as they do, but tonight she hasn’t been back and I’m starting to get worried?

  13. I’ve got a nest outside, and the mother always came back at night to brood, as they do, but tonight she hasn’t been back and I’m starting to get worried?

  14. I’ve got a nest outside, and the mother always came back at night to brood, as they do, but tonight she hasn’t been back and I’m starting to get worried?

  15. That does sound worrisome.

    But incubating or brooding chicks?

    The chicks don't stay in the nest long. Could they have fledged already?

    Or have they been abandoned?

  16. We have a nest just outside our window. We noticed it in May an kept an eye on it because the raining season worried me. The 2 chicks grew and fledged on Sunday. I saw the smaller one around the yard for a couple of days (with the mom). My question is, will they be back?

  17. Thanks for your answer, your blog kept me sane and stopped me many times from meddling with them ( i worried a lot about them) I don't have a feeder. They like a jazmin, but it isn't fully in bloom anymore. I want to add more flowers and mow the weeds but didn't want to scare them. Do you think I can proceed with that? Thanks again!

  18. I have a ruby throated humming bird nest right outside of the kitchen window right now! I can see two eggs in there. Today is the Day3 since my discovery, but she probably has been there a bit while longer (on Day 1 of observation, I did watch her built up the nest, and one of the eggs were totally visible). The nest is on a branch of a tree, and I have to say, it's pretty exposed. I don't have a feeder right now, and was wondering if it'd be okay to hang a feeder somewhere near for her, or that's not the great idea as it may attract others? Unrelated, I noticed that before the sundown, she leaves the nest for a long time, like 30-40 minutes. I see her perch on another branch not too far from her nest, and just sits, as if to inspect the surrounding. Then she settles in for a night.

  19. She will feed the nestlings insects.

    I suggest putting up a feeder just before they fledge (18 days after hatching)–but not too close to the nest. That way there is a feeder for them when they start flying, and they may stay around the yard.

  20. Just by chance I was talking to a tree removal guy standing under a branch on Aug 19. A really small hummingbird flew really close to me. And then the gentlemen saw the nest about a foot above my head. So it was pure luck. He brought the branch down just enough so we could see 2 eggs inside the nest. We didn't touch the nest nor eggs. gently let the branch back up. Saw her this evening sitting on the nest. Assuming the eggs have not hatched. I moved a feeder from the porch pretty close to the branch. About 3.5 feet away – do you think that's too close??
    thanks for all the info

  21. I just now saw your reply. Thanks
    However, maybe because I have the other 2 just down and around the corner further down the back yard. It's worked out ok. The eggs hatched about August 30. I've been taking pics from a distance to keep up with progress. I saw one today sitting just outside of nest, but I don't think they're flying yet. However, beaks are now black and they do have feathers and are starting to look like hummingbirds. The mama is very protective and makes quite a fuss at me directly in front of my face. I never stay very long.

  22. Thanks for your excellent and informative article! We are so excited to have an Anna hummingbird build her nest on the network (netting?) of a shell wind chime, which is immediately outside our slider door off the living room. We can watch her all the time … and watching that nest grow from threads to a little bowl was amazing! We kept thinking there's no way she can fit in there, or lay eggs, but after reading your article, everything is completely to norm and now we are waiting for the babies to show. (I think she just finished the nest though, so maybe another few days?) So fun and exciting! Thanks again 🙂

  23. This is a great resource. An easy read and easy to understand. I'm in need of trimming a very large ficus in my backyard, but 10 days ago discovered a hummingbird nest in the tree. Will have to wait until eggs hatch and babies fledge. While keeping a watch and counting down the days, I discovered another nest on the other side of the tree, but in a hanging piece of art made of twigs. I'm amazed that there are two nests in the yard! A hummingbird built a nest in the twig art last year, but once the eggs hatched, the crows got to it. That was my first experience with that and had another one since. Hoping the crows will leave these two alone, but the crows were out an about today and that tells me, they probably already know. Amazing what we can see if we just look.

  24. It is true. If we take the time, we see things most people miss out on. We can train ourselves to slow down and really observe the things around us.

  25. I watched a HB build her nest on string lights 2 inches below the ceiling inside of our outdoor covered patio awning! She started to build on top of 3 different lights until finally deciding on the last one. So fun watching it progress to completion. First noticed two eggs 7 days ago, not sure when they were laid. Excited for them to hatch. It's so cool to be able to watch from inside the house! I started to sit near the nest and make clicking noises and talk to her. She hovers around and checks me out, then goes back to the nest. Hope she gets used to me and sticks around. I hung a feeder about 8 feet away. Is that too close? Thanks for the info in your article 🙂

  26. A female has staked her claim in our backyard for the 2nd year. Her nest is fairly out in the open. All throughout the day, I can see her guarding the HB feeder and a nearby Bottlebrush tree that just bloomed. The nest is right in between the two. She has the area pretty locked down 🙂

  27. Thanks for sharing!

    Females do vigorously protect their nest. I'm not sure if 8 feet is too close or not for the feeder. I guess in a few weeks you'll know!

  28. That's wonderful! I wasn't sure if a nesting female would include a feeder as part of her "nest territory."

  29. I have 3 hummingbird feeders in my small backyard. One of them is hanging on the edge of my patio. Between the feeders and the fruit trees (3) I have lots of hummingbird traffic. Today I noticed a hummingbird building its nest on the string of lights on the patio —–right outside my kitchen window —- maybe 8 feet from one of the feeders. I am hopeful she is successful, and we get to watch her raise her brood from the kitchen.

  30. This was helpful. I have a nest in a rose bush on my porch. No, I do not have feeders out. There were 2 eggs that hatched about 10 days ago and are getting big. I was wondering how long they would stay and it looks like we are half way through. Thanks again for all the info.

  31. This year we found a nest that had fallen out of our tree, do to heavy winds.I would like to know if this nest is still viable? Under any circumstance would it be livable if hung by any species of hummingbird? We have a good variety of Hummers here in the north west..Thanks for your time…

  32. Even if the nest is from this spring, the hummingbirds likely will not re-use it if it is set back up. However, they may recycle some of the material as they build a new nest.

  33. We watched a mother hatch her one baby mid March right outside our kitchen window. We admired the mother and baby for over 3 weeks. Then one afternoon we were in the kitchen and a crow came swooping down and took the baby. We were horrified and shaken up because we named the baby bird and watched it grow. After that the mother returned to the empty nest for a few days then we never saw her again. It was heartbreaking. Then today I noticed a bird sitting in the nest. I took a peak and there are 2 eggs inside! How can I protect the nest to prevent crows from attacking again?

  34. I have a hummingbird with her nest on my patio ceiling fan

  35. This is very helpful information. We have been watching a hummingbird build her nest for a few days on a string of lights right on our pergola above a lounge area where we often spend time. it has been such an incredible and rare, beautiful thing to witness. I am hoping to keep the nest safe and see the baby hummingbirds grow to adulthood. Their are hawks that fly overhead and crows. How do I help keep them safe?

  36. Oh no! From wonderful to horrified. Yes, that is nature. Unfortunately, I'm not sure there's anything you can do to protect the nest. The crows learn where to look for food. The hummingbirds learn what doesn't work for nest site location.

  37. I don't think you can keep nestlings safe. Crows and jays are the biggest threats. But, really, any larger bird might eat a nestling hummingbird.

    The best thing you can do is enjoy from a distance. The less there's a "path" or any disturbance, the less likely other predators may notice.

  38. The mother hummingbird hasn’t returned to the nest in nearly a. week. I read that the egg can sit in the nest for a couple weeks without being incubated and it’s possible she’ll return and lay another egg…Hoping so but seeming less likely.

  39. I had a nest in my yard that I found with 2 eggs in it like you said. The eggs hatched and the two have been growing fast. It has been about 3 weeks since they hatched. They were out growing the nest. Yesterday I was taking a picture of them when the bigger one flew off. It didn’t return today. I was worried if it will be ok. After reading your article I think it is time for them to fly off. 1 still remains in the nest. I hope it will be ok without it brother or sister.

  40. I have a hummingbird nest in the limb of a tree close to my deck. The nest is in the same limb as last year, and the mother is sitting in it right now.

  41. A dark Chinned Humming bird built a nest under our covered patio on a hanging light. We are not using the patio or the patio door to give her some space. My desk window where I do my computer work is only 10 feet away and she doesn't mind my presence or the computer screen. When someone comes up to the window she looks at us but appears to be OK with a human face. It has been an unusually cool spring in the northern Great Basin and she has been sitting on the nest most of the time. Today is the first day over 75 degrees and she is frequently flying but coming back with a few minutes. We assume she is feeding while the egg temps are OK and getting ready for the hatch.

  42. Thanks for your observations and report. I don't know how much "work" I could do with a hummingbird nest just out my window!

  43. Hi! I have a hummingbird nest close to my front door. We only saw one egg, but there are two baby birds. Are twins in one egg common in hummingbirds?

  44. What an interesting question!

    I did some research, and such twins are quite rare. Most data are from chicken and duck eggs.

    If the twins are rare, surviving twins are exceptionally so. Apparently the rough egg shell surface is the right size to provide oxygen to the embryo, not two developing chicks. Then again, the chicks are often unable to pip through the shells at hatching time when there are two small birds in one egg.

  45. Thank you for your reply! I've taken a picture every day, watching them grow. The babies are getting big and probably ready to fly away soon. I'm so glad I was able to see it happen!

  46. Hi, I recently found my resident
    male Ruby Throated dead on the sidewalk next to my house😢😢 I was crushed! I sat with for a long time trying to will him show me any kind of sign that he would live, and trying to will him to come back to me. It was devastating. Unfortunately he was already gone when I found him. We have a Robin who built her nest in a bush near the feeder I found him near. Her babies were fledging that day and I think that may have had something to do with it, but I could be wrong. My question is what will happen with my 3 resident females? Will they leave in search for a male to mate with, if so, will they return to my yard to nest again? Will a new male come along and now and claim my yards as his?
    I usually only get one male one female, this is first time I had him and three females.
    I live in southern Michigan, very near the Toledo Ohio state line and only get my beautiful hummers a few months

  47. It is sad to hear about the dead male hummingbird.

    However, male hummingbirds take no part in nest duties or feeding or raising the young. In fact, the female will drive him away, as she protects a territory around the nest.

    By now the females have mated and may be raising young on their own. Male's contribution is no longer needed this year! A nearby male might be available, if the female needs him.

  48. A hummingbird has been building a nest right above my patio porch light. She’s using the bulb socket that does not have a bulb in it. I’ve been watching her probably for over a month now and she’s build a nest up there. The last day I hadn’t seen her at all tend to her nest and I got worried. I looked closer around the patio and noticed that she was dead on the floor. I’m worried that she has babies up on the Nest what should I do. It broke my heart when I seen her on the floor.

    Coco B

  49. Oh, that's too bad. You made sure the empty light socket doesn't have live electricity to it, right? Probably obvious but thought I'd ask.

  50. I just found a HB next inside the cab of my Ranger. Three eggs are in it. We been driving the Ranger around for 2 weeks before I found the nest. I thought the nest was empty but 3 eggs her in the nest. I put it back. This is Sept 2022 in South West Alabama. Do you think the Mom will go back to the nest? We park the Ranger in different places, but always close to the house.

  51. Hi Greg, For the past two/three days a female hummingbird has been just sitting in a slightly covered bush outside our window. She doesn't seem to be building a nest, and she just hangs out throughout the day. Any idea what she is up to? Scouting a potential nest zone in the bush?

  52. She could just be resting and keeping warm. HOWEVER, Anna's Hummingbirds are the earliest nesting birds, sometimes laying eggs in late December (though March and April is more typical).

  53. Last year here in Victoria BC we had a nest above the flood light box under the eaves of the house. It is nicely protected behind and above the fixture. We saw two babies hatch and fly away. We took down the nest. They do make a mess in the area with their poop. Just days ago we saw a new nest being built in the same place and it looks ready to go. Haven’t checked yet for eggs. Seems a little cold for babies but I understand from your article that they can start as early as February. Their nest was the prettiest thing with lichen attached on the outside as camouflage. The nest is about 8 feet from one of our feeders.

  54. We have a hummingbird that built her nest on a Himalayan wind chime, hanging on the back patio. She has at least one egg in it, I’m worried about how cold it still is here in Northern California.

  55. I have a hummingbird nest. She nested last year and is back this year. She has a nest in my atrium which is well shaded and it’s in one of my tree plants up high on a branch. I didn’t touch it last year and she is back using it this year. I keep my animals in the house when birds nest they have found my place safe and quiet. I had doves nest last year too in another plant. She had two eggs only one hatched and I got to see the day mama had her come out of the nest and fly away. I expect them to come back too. Now my animals only get the front patio to go out. It appears I’ve made a sanctuary for birds to nest.

  56. After reading this i feel even more blessed but not surprised. A HB built her nest on a light in front of my kitchen window that i stare out of daily. She knows im 2 ft away watching her! Also she continues to build while i sit outside nearby. She even sits near me, seems curious, so i talk to her & am excited to watch her be a mama. I do have 4 feeders on my lil patio for them so apparently im cool with the hummingbirds! But animals always like me & why im not surprised, just feeling super blessed!😁

  57. We have a jasmine plant growing up the wall under our porch. There is a feeder approximately 10 ft away. Mama hummingbird has built a nest in the jasmine. This makes the second nest in this plant in 2 years!!

  58. I have a nest and a hummingbird bird on top of the nest! do not see little birds yet but the feeder is maybe 1 yard from this nest ! should I remove the feeder to a different location?

  59. I have a nest on my patio, it has produced about dozen sets of HB over the past 2 years. I just came home from a trip and found one of the babies on a table below the nest. I read instructions that I can replace the HB back in the nest (it was alive), but when I put it in the nest I noticed it was half the size of the baby. Should I check it in a few to see if it survived and if it died do I take it out?

  60. It may have been a runt. In this case it probably cannot compete for food with the larger chick. The larger chick may even have pushed it out!

  61. Thanks for the informative article and balanced point of view. We noticed a hummingbird build a nest on the fork of a Katsura branchlet, well hidden under more branches and leaves. It's over the driveway, about eight feet from a feeder in a little dogwood. Based on the timeline you give, hatching is probably just about to happen. It will be tough to stick to the one peek per day we each allow ourselves around the drawn curtain in the dining room window!

  62. A mama built a nest in our plumeria tree on an horizontal branch. Peeked through the window to see if something was there…frankly the nest only looks half done, more like a soft rug…one egg was sitting there…but no mama. Haven’t seen her all day. It’s been sitting there all day all alone. Any hope?

  63. a hummingbird built a nest on my back porch on an unused 'S' hook (one of those hooks you'd hang a flowerpot on). She's become somewhat territorial over my porch but will tolerate me sitting quietly on it while she's in the nest. I hung a feeder nearby for her. I have an indoor housecat who likes to lay in front of the screen door while i'm out on the porch – one day i saw hummingbird hoovering in front of the screen looking at my cat while my cat watched her. Can't wait until the eggs hatch

  64. We have a hummingbird nest with two babies in it in a bush outside our patio door. Every day the nest looks more and more precarious and seems to be tilting sideways on the branch. I’m scared the nest will get sideways and the babies will fall out. I was thinking about placing my ironing board underneath it so it would have a soft landing and not a far fall. Is that a crazy idea and/or if it falls will the mom return?

  65. Hummingbird nests are amazing things. Held together with spider silk, the nest stretches as the young get larger. I think the mother can repair or add to the nest as needed. If the babies fall out you can put them back if they aren't injured.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like