Day 9: Two Hummingbird Chicks
Meet Our Team
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Jun 15, 2009 | by Alex Lamoreaux
It has been 5 days since I last visited the Ruby-throated Hummingbird nest. I was delighted to see that there were two small bills protruding above the rim of the nest. Since the chicks were facing away from each other I could barely see both bills at once.
One bill was pointing up at the northwestern end of the nest and the other at the southeastern end (above – it looks like a spike sticking up on the right side).
They are growing fast and the oldest should be 9 days with its sibling a day younger. It is at this stage in their development that the female stops brooding them, as well as when their eyes begin to open. I never saw the female, though this was most likely because of the time of the day – siesta time.
photo © adrian binns