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Humming Bird NestThe exact nesting behaviour can naturally vary, but all Humming bird species are quite closely related and display comparatively similar behaviours. Most male Humming birds do not participate in the nesting and it is the female Humming bird alone who builds the Humming bird nest and care for the offspring. For a majority of the species, the humming bird nest is a neatly woven cup large enough to house two young ones. Compared to the eggs of other bird species, Humming birds lay extremely small eggs. Compared to the size of the female Humming bird, the eggs are however quite large. Humming bird eggs need to incubate in the Humming bird nest for 14-19 days. |
The Humming bird nest is often placed in a tree branch, but the Humming bird can choose a wide range of other places as well. The ideal spot for a Humming bird nest is a sheltered spot where it will not be destroyed by strong winds. It seems as though female Humming birds that have had previous nests destroyed by strong winds are pickier when it comes to selecting a spot for the Humming bird nest. The Humming bird nest will also need to be anchored to something, typically a fork in a branch. The Humming bird nest will be under threat from a wide range of different animals, including cats, snakes, birds and ants. Choosing a spot to where heavier animals, such as cats, will find it hard to climb is popular among Humming birds. A branch can for instance be heavy enough to support a woven Humming bird nest, but too weak for a cat to venture onto.
If you want to have a Humming bird nest in your garden, you can encouraging the female Humming bird to choose your garden by providing her with a so called Humming bird house/Humming bird nest house. You can either build a Humming bird nest house yourself or purchase it ready for use. A Humming bird nest house is not really a house; it looks more like tree small metallic twigs protruding horizontally from a vertical beam, and it is protected by a small roof. The female Humming bird will create the Humming bird nest around the metallic twigs just like she would create a nest around the twigs and small branches of a tree or bush.
It is important to place the Humming bird nest house in a protected spot in your garden, such as under a stable porch or patio fixture. In the wild, it is not uncommon for a Humming bird nest to be destroyed by strong winds before the eggs have hatched or while the chicks are still too young to leave the nest. Eggs can also be thrown out of the nest by strong winds. Today, Humming birds frequently seek up man made buildings since they offer great protection from the elements and you should not be surprised to find a Humming bird nest in your tool shed, garage etcetera if it is possible for the small Humming bird to gain access through some form of opening.
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