Marvin and Erna pointed out a nest just outside our back gate…amazing. Look for the two little beaks and eyes. The nest is about the size of a golf ball. Obviously not room for the adults now. I wonder if the parents are ones that use our feeder. I hope we see the babies taking flight!
Hummingbird Nest Construction
Hummingbird nests are built entirely by the female bird – male hummingbirds do not have any part in raising chicks once the initial act of copulation is complete. The female, however, will spend several hours a day for 5-7 days collecting materials to build her nest. The most common nesting materials found in hummingbird nests include:
- Moss and lichen
- Plant down from thistles, dandelions or cattails
- Spider silk
- Cotton fibers
- Small bits of bark or leaves
- Feathers
- Fuzz or hairs from leaves
These materials are woven together into a dense cup that is frequently decorated with moss, lichen or other materials for camouflage. The edge of the cup is curved inward to protect the eggs from tipping out in high winds, and the spider silk used to bind the nest together gives it elasticity to enlarge as the hatchlings grow.
