Baby Hummingbirds: All You Need to Know (with Pictures)

Hummingbirds are tiny even as adults, so how old and what do their babies look like?

Hummingbirds camouflage their tiny nests, and it’s totally understandable that people don’t know what they look like.

We’ve put together this guide to all things baby hummingbirds to help you learn and learn about them!

What do baby hummingbirds look like?

Newly hatched hummingbirds are tiny, weighing about 60 grams, and are nearly nude at birth. Their skin color is variable and can be dark gray, dark slate, or pink. The skin color of hatchlings that hatch in the nest can even vary, with a mix of dark and pink hatchlings. Usually the only covering is two rows of fine or yellowish-white needles running along the back (outer tuft).

The beak is short and yellowish, and the fleshy parts of the throat and mandibles are variable in color and can be anything from orange to red. No egg teeth. Hummingbirds are born with their eyes closed and open their eyes after 7 days.

Baby hummingbirds are late born, which means they hatch in an undeveloped state and require the care and feeding of their parents. This means they are uncoordinated, but they can raise their heads in response to female calls.

The fine feathers of the little hummingbird start to appear from 7-8 days, and the first exercise of the wings takes place after 2 weeks of age.

Newborn birds only need two to three days to defecate on the edge of the nest.

Hummingbird chicks being fed by their mother

Why have you never seen a baby hummingbird?

Hummingbird nests are small and often well camouflaged, located in hidden places to avoid predation. This means they are often located in places we cannot reach or not easily see.

When they leave the nest, their plumage and size look so similar to adult females that they can be difficult to tell apart. So chances are, you’ve seen many baby birds walking around, but assume they’re females.

How Big Are Baby Hummingbirds?

It varies by hummingbird species, but generally they are very small, about 1 inch long and weigh about 0.62 grams.

If you compare it to an object, a newly hatched hummingbird is about the size of a jellybean.

From day 1 until day 18, they gained about 0.5 grams per day – a gain of almost 50% from day 1 alone!

Two young hummingbirds nesting in a tree

How much do baby hummingbirds weigh?

It depends on the species, but the young of the common hummingbird species, the ruby-throated hummingbird, weigh about 0.62 grams. That’s about one-third the weight of a penny!

What is the name of the little hummingbird?

There is no specific name for the little hummingbird, instead, ornithologists and bird watchers refer to the little hummingbird as:

• chick
• fledgling
• fledgling

What Do Baby Hummingbirds Eat?

Hummingbird chicks are fed and cared for entirely by the female, with no assistance from the male.

The hatchlings will be fed by females inserted into the chicks’ beaks and begin regurgitating a mixture of partially digested worms and nectar during their first 15 days of life.

These partially digested often include soft-bodied insects, including mosquitoes, spiders, small insects, caterpillars, bees, fruit flies, and insect eggs. These insects are an important source of protein for chicks, helping them grow and develop.

When the mother returns to the nest, the chicks instinctively look up as they recognize the meow and the wind blowing from her wings.

After about 2 weeks, the female brings the insects back to the nest for the larvae to feed independently.

If you’re lucky enough – and can watch from a respectful distance – you can watch a mother’s throat swell as she feeds her pups. This is for the up and down motion to draw the food out of her beak.

For more information on hummingbird diets, check out this article.

Hummingbird feeding baby in nest

What do hummingbird eggs look like?

Hummingbird eggs are smooth, white, and oval in shape. They are very small, about the size of a coffee bean.

Ruby-throated hummingbird eggs average 13 mm long and 8.6 mm wide. The average weight is only 0.56 grams.

hummingbird eggs in nest

How many eggs do hummingbirds lay?

On average, a clutch has 2 eggs, but sometimes only 1 egg. In rare cases, 3 eggs were reported.

The number of eggs laid each year varies with the hummingbird’s habitat, weather, and species, but usually one to three clutches are laid per year.

How long does it take for hummingbirds to hatch?

The eggs usually hatch and hatch after 12 to 14 days. However, this does vary by species, range and location.

If the weather is particularly cold, this will increase the time it takes for the eggs to hatch.

The female incubates her own eggs and only leaves the nest for a few minutes each hour to find food for herself. Eggs need to be kept at around 96 degrees.

After hatching, the female pops the eggshell from the nest. Eggshells are usually found on the ground below the nest.

What month do hummingbirds have babies?

Spawning conditions vary by species and location, but on average, spawning takes place as early as the last week of March through September. Although the most common month for hummingbirds to lay eggs is in May.

The second egg is usually laid 1 to 3 days after the first egg.

Two Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds in the nest

When Can Hummingbird Chicks Fly?

The life cycle of young hummingbirds is very fast, it only takes about 3 weeks for all their feathers to grow into flight feathers. During this time, their tail feathers can also shorten, but this does not affect their ability to fly.

Although it usually takes them 3 weeks to fly, they usually begin developing their wings at two weeks of age.

How long do baby hummingbirds stay in the nest?

It varies slightly by species, but on average, chicks spend about 18 and 22 days in the nest. After this time, they become fledglings.

When hummingbirds leave the nest, they usually weigh much more than the average adult hummingbird. This usually drops off dramatically until foraging skills are fully developed.

How long do hummingbirds stay with their mother?

After leaving the nest, they stay with their mother for another 7 days or so, who continues to feed them.

After this time, at about 3-4 weeks of age, fledgling hummingbirds are sufficiently developed and have practiced enough flight skills to travel on their own.

young hummingbird with mother

Where Do Hummingbirds Nest?

Nest sites are usually in trees and shrubs near the tips of downward-sloping branches. They prefer sites with open areas below the nest and leave a canopy over their heads.

Forests and gardens are common places for them to nest, but having a nearby source of nectar and insects also factors into their decision.

Female hummingbirds choose a nest site and build it independently, which takes 6 to 10 days.

Start by making a flat base of the thistle or dandelion. It is then attached to the branches, usually with spider webs. The side walls are made of white plant down, more cobwebs and bud scales.

Two baby hummingbirds nest with their mother

Do Hummingbirds Reuse Nests?

In general, hummingbirds do not reuse nests, but will often use old nest material. However, some females will “renovate” their nests to raise a second litter.

What to do if you spot a tiny hummingbird on the ground?

If you spot a baby hummingbird on the ground, it’s best to try and, if it’s safe to do so, try to return the chick to its nest.

Be careful if the bird grabs anything with its feet, as you will need to work with the bird to pick it up. Otherwise, the chicks will hang on to objects, which can mean breaking their tiny bones.

If the nest has been destroyed and there is no sign of the mother, place the baby in a dark and quiet place to keep warm. Best not to feed or peek at them. If you do this, be sure to contact your local wildlife management agency or bird specialist for assistance, as they may take the baby bird away from you for rehab and rearing.