Hummingbirds build intricate nests using materials like spider silk and lichen. They prefer sheltered spots for nesting, often high in trees or shrubs.
Hummingbird nests are camouflaged with moss, bark, and leaves to blend in with their surroundings. This helps protect the nest from predators like snakes and birds.
Female hummingbirds alone build nests, using their beaks to weave materials together. Nests are tiny, about the size of a half walnut, to protect eggs and chicks.
Once the nest is complete, female hummingbirds lay 1-3 eggs. They are white and about the size of a jellybean. The female incubates the eggs for about 2 weeks.
After hatching, the female cares for the chicks alone. She feeds them a diet of regurgitated nectar and insects until they are ready to fledge, usually within 3 weeks.
The chicks leave the nest when fully feathered and able to fly. They may stay close to the nest for a few days as the female continues to feed and protect them.