Hummingbird Facts for Kids: Migration, Feeding, and Nests
Birds
Hummingbirds may be small, but they are some of the fastest and most fascinating birds in the world. In these hummingbird facts for kids, you’ll discover how they hover in the air, what they eat, and how they survive.
Short Hummingbird Facts
- Baby hummingbirds are called chicks
- Hummingbirds can flap their wings up to 80 times per second
- They can hover in place and even fly backward
- Hummingbirds drink nectar using their long, specialized tongues
- Despite their size, they migrate long distances each year
Iridescent Hummingbirds
Why Are Hummingbirds So Colorful?
Hummingbirds come in many bright colors—there are over 350 types! But their colors are even more special than they seem.
What Makes Their Colors Special?
Most birds get their color from pigments in their feathers, kind of like paint. But hummingbirds are different. Their feathers can shine and change color in the light. This is called iridescence.
How Does It Work?
Hummingbird feathers are made in a special way that reflects light, almost like a tiny mirror. When sunlight hits them, the light bounces back, making their feathers sparkle.
Why Do They Look Like They Change Color?
As a hummingbird moves, the light hits its feathers at different angles. That’s why it might look green one moment and flash bright red or purple the next!
Masters of the Sky
Hummingbirds are some of the fastest and most amazing flyers in the animal world!
Fast Wings
Hummingbirds flap their wings incredibly fast—up to 200 times per second! Their tiny, lightweight bodies help them move quickly through the air.
Why Do They Make a Buzzing Sound?
Have you ever heard a hummingbird buzz? That sound comes from their super-fast wings! They flap so quickly that it creates a humming noise—this is how they got their name.
How Fast Can They Fly?
Hummingbirds can fly very fast. During a normal flight, they can fly 20–45 miles per hour, and up to 60 miles per hour during special diving displays. That’s faster than most birds their size!
What Makes Their Flight Special?
Hummingbirds can do things most birds cannot:
- Fly forward and backward
- Hover in one spot like a helicopter
- Even fly upside down for a moment!
These tiny birds can eat!
Hummingbirds Hover When They Eat
Hummingbirds hover in one place so they can drink nectar from flowers. Nectar is a sweet liquid that gives them lots of energy.
What Do They Eat?
Hummingbirds mostly drink nectar, but they also eat tiny insects, which give them protein and help them stay strong.
Why Do They Need So Much Food?
Hummingbirds use a lot of energy because they fly so fast and hover so often. To keep going, they need to eat many times throughout the day. Some hummingbirds visit hundreds of flowers in a single day.
Where Do Hummingbirds Make Their Homes?
What Are Their Nests Made Of?
They use soft materials to make the nest stretchy and strong. They use spiderwebs, moss, and lichen.
How Big Are Their Nests?
Hummingbird nests are very small, about the size of a coin! They are shaped like tiny bowls and fit in the palm of your hand, and their eggs are the size of jelly beans.
Who Builds the Nest?
The female hummingbird builds the nest all by herself. It takes about a week to finish.
Where Do They Build Their Nests?
Hummingbirds choose safe spots near food, like flowers full of nectar or feeders.
How Do Hummingbirds Sleep?
Hummingbirds are awake during the day and sleep at night. At night, they enter a deep state of rest called torpor, which helps them conserve energy. Their body slows down, and they stay very still to make it through the night.
Exploring Their Epic Migrations
How Do Hummingbirds Travel?
Hummingbirds may be tiny, but they can travel very long distances during migration. Some fly thousands of miles each year, even over large areas of water.
When Do They Migrate?
Many hummingbirds travel north in late winter or spring and head south again in late summer or fall. The sun and the length of the day help tell them when it is time to go.
How Do They Find Food on the Way?
As they travel, hummingbirds look for flowers with nectar to give them energy. They also eat insects, which are an important part of their diet.
How Can You Help?
You can help migrating hummingbirds by keeping a feeder clean and filled when they are passing through your area.
Hummingbirds in the Backyard
Hummingbirds are often found in backyards, especially where there are flowers, trees, and feeders. You might see them hovering near bright blooms or zipping quickly from plant to plant as they search for nectar.
How Can You Help Hummingbirds?
- Plant flowers that give them nectar
- Hummingbirds also need water. A gentle mister or dripper can give them a place to cool off and clean their feathers.
- Keep feeders clean and full
How Can You Keep Them Safe?
- Hang feeders high so cats can’t reach them
- Keep pet cats indoors when possible
- Make windows safer by using screens or keeping blinds partly closed
- Avoid using harmful chemicals
Hummingbird Neighbors
Hummingbirds share their backyard habitats with other animals, such as blue jays, which are bold and active, and wrens, known for their small size and big songs. They also rely on creatures like bees and butterflies, which help pollinate the flowers hummingbirds depend on for nectar.
Hummingbird Themed Family Activities (Ages 3+)
Grow A Hummingbird Haven
Plant bright, nectar-rich flowers like bee balm, trumpet vine, or salvia to attract hummingbirds to your yard. Add a clean feeder filled with fresh nectar and watch as these tiny birds hover and zip from flower to flower. Kids can observe how hummingbirds feed, fly, and conserve energy while helping create a safe space for wildlife!
Please share!
Explore more animals in our Backyard Animals Facts for Kids collection
