Nesting Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Here on the East Coast we only have one summer resident hummingbird and that is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Males typically begin to arrive in the Delaware Valley around mid April having wintered in Central America. They set up a territory based upon the most favorable food sources. Once the females have arrived and are accepted in the males territory she will look for a suitable nest site, usually near the end of a low down-sloping branch on a deciduous tree, and begin to create her masterpiece.

The design and fine construction of the nest is an absolute marvel worthy of a master craftsman. So tiny is the hummer that it requires precision finesse to mold the fine spider webs into an oval about the size of a half dollar. As she completes layers she’ll add minute pieces of lichens to the outside, so small that they are barely visible in her bill as she brings them to nest. This camouflages the white threads and makes the nest very inconspicuous. It will take her between 7 and 10 days to complete.

Once completed she will via for the males attention and he will court her from above with a deep “U-shaped dive”. This is then followed by a quick side by side horizontal display only a short distance in front of her, prior to mating. That is their only contact with one another. He, of course, will be busy looking for another female as she settles in to nesting duties. Incubation begins once the 1st egg is laid and the second egg may be laid as many as 3 days later, though usually the next day. This means that they will hatch asynchronously (on different days).

I was away for the next 10 days…..

I’ll be back with more and we’ll follow the progress of the youngsters once they become visible. Maybe as early as later next week. It’ll be exciting.