This is a tiny hummingbird nest from last year that fell with a limb out of a tall pine tree in our yard. I should have put a ruler in the photo to show how tiny the nest is! It's two inches wide and one and one-half inches tall. I would love to watch the hummers build a nest; it's nothing short of amazing how they manage to gather lichens and pine straw and cobwebs and all without being able to open their little beaks!!! It's almost time for them to return for this season.........I hope my usual little one comes to the kitchen window to let me know to hurry and hang their feeder! I'll let you know when they come...........
3 comments:
Thanks for the pictures of the hummingbird nest. They allowed me to take a much closer look at them. I was amazed by how very tiny they were. Here is some information about hummingbird nest that I thought you might find interesting.
The female hummingbird bares the sole responsibility for building the nests and caring for the young birds once they are born.
Most Rufous Hummingbird nests are made of lichens, moss and fragments of bark, bound together with strands of spider web and lined with soft downy plant material like cottonwood fluff. Nests are usually located in the droopy branches of a large spruce tree about 8 to 12 feet above the ground.
Another thing to consider when trying to find a hummingbird nest is that it is important to look near a water source. Humidity is important to ensure the development of the embryo inside the egg. It is because of this that hummingbirds prefer to build near rivers, streams, ponds and lakes. Many species also choose to nest near a reliable food supply, so the birds are looking for there to be abundant blossoms in the area. At the same time, the nest will be protected from rainfall and direct sunlight, thus making it likely to be tucked away and difficult to spot.
Female hummingbirds check the strength of a prospective nest site by clinging to it or repeatedly landing on it. If the site passes the test, a female will begin to build. The nest will be built on the underside of a palm leaf, on the side of a vertical plant stem, on a small branch, on top of a cactus or many other different locations are used and different species have different preferences. Tipically, hummingbirds usually build on branches, but the hermit hummingbirds build nests that hang from vegetation or from a vertical plant stem, root, or rock.
Most typical hummingbirds build cup-shaped nests like the bird’s nests most of us are familiar with. Hermits build cone-shaped nests which hang vertically, attached to something strong enough to support the weight of nest and birds for the breeding season. Hummingbird nests are built with pieces of plants and often cobwebs, and females frequently need to repair the nest as the chicks grow.
If you would like much more information about hummingbirds, please click the link below. The site contains many articles about hummingbirds, video clips about hummingbirds, an informative tips booklet on hummingbirds, and much more.
Click Here To Visit About Hummingbirds
Happy hummingbird watching everyone!
Zoe Ann Hinds
hi phyl
what a find!!! she says with envy ;)
i hung my feeder last week-haven't seen a hummer yet-but i i want them to know that i am ready for them to come back
thank you for sharing ;)
enjoy your day
tammy
Hi Phyl.
Wow, I've never seen a hummingbird nest. They're so cute!!! We have tons of the little creatures, but I've never seen them nest.
Thanks for the pictures and the lady at the top sure knows her stuff! NOW I know where to look.
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