When Is Nesting Season for Hummingbirds?

When Is Nesting Season for Hummingbirds? A Simple Guide

Hummingbirds are some of the tiniest and most beautiful birds in the world. Many bird lovers enjoy watching them because of their bright colors, fast movements, and unique habits. These little birds flap their wings so fast that they make a humming sound—this is how they got their name!

Unlike other birds, hummingbirds don’t walk or hop. They hover in the air and have their own special ways of nesting and raising their young. But when exactly is nesting season for hummingbirds? Let’s take a closer look.

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive?

There are 24 types of hummingbirds listed by the American Birding Association. These include:

• Violetear
• Mango
• Starthroat
• Woodstar
• Mountain-gem (2 species)
• 18 other hummingbird species

Some of these are rare and only visit the U.S. occasionally. But many common species are migratory. They spend the winter in Central and South America and return to the U.S. in spring.

If you live along the West Coast (like in California or Washington), you might see hummingbirds all year. In most other places, they begin returning as early as February and usually leave by October.

Why Do Hummingbirds Migrate?

Hummingbirds feed on flower nectar and tiny insects. In winter, flowers are hard to find, and bugs disappear. So, they migrate to warmer places where food is available.

Also, hummingbirds are sensitive to cold. Their small bodies can’t survive freezing temperatures without constant food. That’s why many of them spend the winter in warmer regions like Mexico and South America.

Some well-known migrators include the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and the Rufous Hummingbird.

How Does the Mating Season Begin?

Male hummingbirds start by picking a good territory. They guard it and chase away other males. Once they have a spot, they begin looking for females.

A male can mate with several females each season. The female, however, works alone to build her nest, lay eggs, and raise the babies.

What Happens During Mating Season?

To attract a mate, male hummingbirds perform amazing flying shows. They zoom around, flash their bright feathers, and sometimes sing. Their moves are meant to impress the female.

If the female accepts, mating takes just a few seconds. Afterward, the male leaves, and the female takes over all parenting duties.

Where Do Female Hummingbirds Build Nests?

Female hummingbirds choose quiet, hidden places for their nests. They want to keep their babies safe from predators, rain, wind, and sun.

Nests are often built in trees or shrubs, usually well-camouflaged. The exact height and location can vary based on the type of hummingbird.

How Are the Nests Built?

After mating, the female gathers materials to build the nest. It’s about the size of a golf ball and made from twigs, leaves, feathers, and plant fuzz. She uses sticky spider silk to hold it all together.

This makes the nest stretchy, so it can grow as the baby birds grow. The female even adds some of her own feathers and shapes the nest with her body to make it perfect.

What Happens After the Eggs Are Laid?

The female usually lays two tiny eggs, about the size of a jellybean. She sits on the eggs and keeps them warm for about 2–3 weeks. During that time, she takes short breaks to find food.

Once the babies hatch, the mother feeds and cares for them until they’re strong enough to fly—usually after 3 to 4 weeks. In some cases, a female may even care for chicks while preparing for her next brood.

What Happens After Nesting Season?

Nesting season usually lasts about three months. In northern parts of the U.S., most hummingbirds raise just one brood per year. But in warmer areas, they might nest more than once.

Sometimes, a female returns to the same spot the next year if it worked well before. Other times, she builds a new nest nearby. If she fails to raise a brood one season, she may try again the next year.

How to Spot a Hummingbird Nest

Hummingbird nests are tiny and well-hidden, so they’re hard to find—even for experienced bird-watchers. Here are some tips:

• Use binoculars to scan trees and shrubs.
• Listen for the humming sound—nests are usually nearby.
• Look in shady spots out of direct sunlight.
• Nests may look like a small knot of cotton on a branch.
• Hummingbirds sometimes nest in unusual places like ropes, wires, clotheslines, or under bridges.
• You may see one while trimming trees—be careful not to destroy it.
• Some species build multiple nests on top of each other, especially in pine trees.

Final Thoughts

Watching hummingbirds during nesting season is a magical experience. These tiny birds are full of energy, and their parenting process is amazing to observe. If you want to catch a glimpse, keep your eyes open from February through summer and listen for that signature hum!

FAQs About Hummingbird Nesting Season