Hummingbird Nests: Secrets of the Ultimate Tiny Homes

Creating a home is an art form, and no bird species does it quite like the hummingbird. The whole process of nest building, from gathering materials to putting the finishing touches on a tiny cup-shaped structure, is one of the most impressive feats in the bird world.

Hummingbird nests are marvels of miniaturization. Imagine a ping-pong ball sliced in half. Got it? That's roughly the size of a hummingbird nest.

These tiny masterpieces are typically about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, barely bigger than a walnut. The nest walls are only about as thick as a coin. And here's the clever part: the nest is built to stretch. As the chicks grow, the plant materials and spider silk flex outward, expanding the nest to accommodate the babies. It's like nature's version of an adjustable waistband.

From the ground, a hummingbird nest looks like a small knot on a tree branch. That's part of why they're so hard to spot. Most people have walked right past dozens of hummingbird nests without ever noticing them.

When it comes to construction materials, female hummingbirds are the ultimate recyclers. They gather soft plant fibers, fluffy seed down, moss, lichen, and tiny bits of bark to form the base of the nest. Feathers sometimes get woven in too, adding an extra layer of insulation for the eggs.

But the real magic ingredient? Spider webs.

Female hummingbirds actively seek out spider webs and collect the silk strands with their beaks. They use these sticky spider webs to bind everything together, essentially gluing the plant materials, moss, and feathers into a cohesive little cup. The spider silk also anchors the nest to the tree branch or whatever surface the hummingbird chose.

Here's what makes spider webs so perfect for nest building: they're incredibly strong for their weight, they're sticky enough to hold everything together, and they're elastic. That elasticity is what allows the nest to stretch as the chicks grow. Spiders are basically the unsung heroes of hummingbird nest construction.

The outside of the nest gets decorated too. The female camouflages it with tiny bits of moss, lichen, and plant materials so it blends into the tree branch. From even a few feet away, a finished hummingbird nest looks like just another bump on a limb.

Female Anna's hummingbird collecting cattail down for nesting material. Photo: Feng Yu/Shutterstock

It takes about 5 to 10 days for a female hummingbird to complete a nest, though some hummers take up to two weeks if conditions aren't ideal. Rain, wind, and difficulty finding spider webs or plant materials can slow the whole process down.

The female makes hundreds of trips during nest building, carrying tiny bits of moss, plant fibers, and spider silk back to the nest site each time. She shapes the nest by sitting in it and pressing her body against the walls, rotating around to form that perfect little cup. Watching her work is mesmerizing.

Fun fact: some hummingbirds will reuse the same nest from a previous year, or build a new nest right on top of an old one. A female Anna's hummingbird nest has been found stacked multiple nests high. Other hummers prefer to start fresh with a new nest each breeding season.

In the world of hummingbirds, the ladies are the ones getting things done. The female hummingbird is a one-woman construction crew, resource gatherer, and interior designer all rolled into one. Watching her work is like seeing a tiny Bob Vila in action, minus the flannel.

She picks the nest site, gathers all the materials, builds the nest, lays the eggs, incubates them, and feeds the babies entirely on her own. That's a lot of solo parenting. Few other birds put this much work into raising young with zero help.

If you're wondering where the male hummingbird is during all of this... well, he's not exactly winning any Father of the Year awards.

The male's role is limited to mating. During breeding season, male hummingbirds perform elaborate courtship displays, diving and swooping in dramatic aerial shows to impress females. The male ruby throated hummingbird, for example, flies in wide U-shaped arcs starting from as high as 50 feet, his throat feathers flashing brilliant red in the sunlight.

After mating, the male moves on. He doesn't help build the nest, doesn't incubate the eggs, and doesn't feed the chicks. The mama hummingbird handles the whole process from start to finish. Male hummingbirds spend their time defending feeding territories and trying to attract more females. Nature isn't always fair, but the females clearly don't need the help.

Once the nest is built, the real magic begins. The journey from eggs to flying babies takes about four to five weeks, and every stage is fascinating if you're lucky enough to be watching.

A female hummingbird will typically lay two eggs, each about the size of a pea or a small jellybean. She usually lays one egg, waits a day or two, then lays the second. Two eggs is the standard clutch size for most hummingbird species, though occasionally a mama will lay just one.

Hummingbird eggs are pure white and surprisingly tough for their tiny size. If you ever see the eggs up close (lucky you), they're barely half an inch long. These are some of the smallest eggs laid by any birds in North America.

After laying her eggs, the female begins incubating. She sits on the nest for about 12 to 16 days, keeping the eggs warm with her body heat. During incubating, you'll see the mama hummingbird sitting very still on her nest, which is actually a good way to spot a nest you might have missed before. If you see a female hummingbird sitting in the same spot for long stretches, she's likely on eggs.

The female does leave the nest briefly to feed, usually for short bursts a few times an hour. Incubating is hungry work, and these birds need to eat frequently to maintain their energy. She'll zip off to nearby feeders or flowers, grab some nectar and tiny insects, then fly right back to the nest and settle back onto the eggs.

Rain can be rough during incubation. The mama sits tight through storms, sheltering the eggs with her body. Some hummers choose nest sites under overhanging leaves or on porch eaves specifically for rain protection.

Two teensy tiny eggs in the nest of a Ruby Throated hummingbird. Photo: Travis Potter/Shutterstock

When the eggs finally hatch, the tiny baby birds that emerge are barely the size of a bumblebee. Hatching usually happens over two days since the eggs were laid a day or two apart. Hummingbird chicks are born blind, mostly featherless, and completely helpless. They can't regulate their own body temperature, so mama keeps them warm by brooding on the nest, just like she did with the eggs.

The chicks are dark-skinned with just a few tiny wisps of down. They don't look much like the iridescent birds they'll become. But give them time. Within days, the babies start growing pin feathers and their eyes open. Watching this transformation happen is one of the best parts of finding a hummingbird nest.

This is where the mom really earns her stripes. A mama hummingbird feeds her babies by regurgitating a mixture of nectar and tiny insects directly into their mouths. She inserts her long beak deep into each baby bird's throat (it looks alarming, but that's how it works) and pumps food in.

The mom feeds the babies roughly every 20 to 30 minutes throughout the day. That's dozens of feeding trips, every single day, for about three weeks. She's catching spiders, tiny insects, and visiting feeders and flowers constantly to keep up with the demand. The babies grow fast, and they're hungry. If you're watching a nest during this stage, you'll see the female hummingbird zipping back and forth nonstop.

The protein from insects and spiders is critical for the young birds' development. Nectar provides energy, but the bugs provide the protein needed to grow feathers, muscles, and bones. This is why having a yard with healthy insect populations matters so much for nesting birds. Without enough feeding opportunities nearby, the babies grow slower and have a harder time after hatching. If you find a baby bird that's fallen from a nest, check our guide on what to feed a baby bird for help.

Hummingbird chicks stay in the nest for about 18 to 22 days after hatching. During that time, the young birds go from naked little blobs to fully feathered babies ready to fly. The transformation is remarkable, and watching it unfold day by day is something you won't forget.

As the chicks grow, they start exercising their wings while still in the nest, gripping the rim and buzzing away. The nest stretches to accommodate two babies that are now almost the same size as their mama. Watching two nearly full-grown chicks crammed into a tiny nest is both adorable and slightly comical.

When the young birds finally fledge, they don't just fly off and never come back. The mom continues feeding the babies for another one to two weeks after they leave the nest, while the young hummers learn to find food on their own. She teaches these young birds to visit feeders, find nectar-producing flowers, and catch tiny insects.

After that, the young hummers are on their own. And sometimes, the mama goes right back to the same nest (or builds a new nest nearby) and starts the whole process over again for a second brood.

Finding a hummingbird nest is like finding Waldo in a sea of red-and-white stripes. These nests blend seamlessly with their surroundings, making them tough to spot. But with a bit of patience and a sharp eye, you can discover these hidden gems in your own back yard.

Hummingbirds most commonly build nests on thin, downward-sloping tree branches, usually 10 to 40 feet off the ground. They prefer branches with some overhead cover from leaves to protect the nest from rain and direct sun. Deciduous trees, oaks, maples, and fruit trees are all popular choices.

But hummingbird nests aren't limited to tall trees. You can find them in shrubs just a few feet off the ground, on thick vines, and in hedgerows. Ruby throated hummingbird nests are often found in deciduous trees near the edges of clearings, while Anna's hummingbird nests turn up in a wider variety of spots, including garden plants and ornamental trees in your yard.

If you have hummingbird feeders on your porch, pay attention. Hummers often nest surprisingly close to reliable food sources. Checking the trees and shrubs within about 50 feet of a busy feeder is a great starting point.

Hummingbirds are surprisingly adaptable when it comes to picking out real estate. While they usually go for natural spots like tree branches and shrubs, they sometimes choose more unconventional nesting sites.

Man-made structures can occasionally become hummingbird high-rises. It's not uncommon to spot a hummingbird nest hanging from a wind chime, a porch light, a clothesline, or even a hanging basket of flowers. Some lucky homeowners have found hummingbird nests visible from their sliding glass door, allowing for close-up watching without disturbing the birds.

Hummers have also been known to build on porch rafters, outdoor string lights, wire plant hangers, and garden ornaments. If it's sturdy enough to hold a nest lighter than a penny and located near flowers or feeders, a hummingbird might give it a try.

Female Anna's hummingbird building her nest. Photo: Pamela Astrogypsies / Shutterstock

Watching hummingbird behavior is your best bet for finding a nest. Patience and careful watching are more useful than wandering around staring at tree branches (though you can try that too).

Pay close attention to the behavior of the female hummingbird. If you see a female repeatedly visiting the same spot, she's likely nest building or already incubating. Look for hummers carrying tiny bits of plant material or spider webs in their beaks. That's a dead giveaway.

Another trick: watch where a female flies after feeding at your feeders. If she takes off in a straight, purposeful line toward a particular tree, she might be heading back to her nest. Waiting and watching near a feeder during breeding season is one of the best ways to locate a hummingbird nest.

If you do find a nest, observe from a respectful distance. Think of yourself as a hummingbird private detective: snap those mental pictures, but don't invade their privacy or touch the nest. Getting too close can cause a female to abandon the nest, especially early in incubating when she hasn't fully committed. Stay at least 15 feet back and enjoy watching from there. You'll still be able to see the mama birds coming and going. A bird journal is a great way to track the nest's progress over the weeks.

I remember finding a hummingbird nest in the fall, tucked in the Y of a blackberry vine. It was well after nesting season and the nest was long abandoned. It felt like the thrill of coming across an archeological find, like stumbling across a piece of pottery from 1,000 years ago. It was wonderful to be able to get a close look at the materials used for this nest and how it was so intricately put together. Miraculous!

A nesting hummingbird next to avocado fruit gives a great sense of scale for what you're looking for. Photo: Ali Peterson/Shutterstock

This little hummer chose a patio planter hook for her nest site.

Photo: Florence-Joseph McGinn/Shutterstock

There are more than 360 hummingbird species in the Americas, but only a handful regularly nest in the United States. Each species has its own quirks when it comes to nest building, nesting sites, and breeding season timing. If you're wondering which birds are nesting near you, here's a rundown of the most common species.

The ruby throated hummingbird is the most common species in eastern North America, and finding a ruby throated hummingbird nest is what most backyard birders east of the Mississippi are hoping for. These hummers prefer to nest in deciduous trees, often selecting a thin, downward-sloping branch 10 to 40 feet off the ground.

A ruby throated hummingbird nest is built with plant fibers, spider webs, and moss, then camouflaged with lichen on the outside. The female ruby throated hummingbird typically arrives on the breeding grounds in spring, builds her nest, and lays her two eggs within a few weeks. After the first nest of chicks fledge, she may start a second nest for another brood.

Ruby throated hummingbirds are long-distance migrants, flying across the Gulf of Mexico in fall. That means their nesting window is relatively short, usually April through July, and every day counts.

Anna's hummingbirds are the year round residents of the West Coast, and an Anna's hummingbird nest can show up in some surprising places. Because they don't migrate, Anna's hummingbirds can start nesting as early as December or January, long before other birds are even thinking about breeding season.

An Anna's hummingbird nest uses the same basic materials as other species: plant fibers, spider webs, moss, and feathers. But Anna's are particularly fond of man-made nesting sites. They'll nest on porch lights, wind chimes, hanging baskets, wire sculptures, and just about anything else hanging in a sheltered spot in your yard.

If you live on the West Coast and have hummingbird feeders out year round, keep your eyes peeled even in winter. An Anna's hummingbird mama could be sitting on a nest while you're still wearing a jacket.

A few other species worth knowing about:

• Rufous Hummingbird: Nests in shrubs and low trees, often in the Pacific Northwest. These feisty birds are fiercely protective of their nesting sites and feeders.
• Black-chinned Hummingbird: Common in the western US, builds nests in trees and shrubs, often near water. The female uses spider webs heavily in her nest construction.
• Broad-tailed Hummingbird: Found at higher elevations in the Rockies, these birds nest in coniferous trees. The female sometimes returns to the same nest or same tree year after year.

Whether it's a ruby throated hummingbird nest in a backyard oak or an Anna's hummingbird nest on a porch wind chime, each species brings its own approach to the same challenge: build a tiny, perfect home.

If you want hummingbirds nesting in your back yard, you can make a real difference by providing what these birds need: food, nesting materials, and a safe environment. Here's how to set up your yard to support nesting hummers and give them their best shot at successfully hatching and raising babies.

The single best thing you can do is plant native flowers and plants that bloom throughout the breeding season. Hummingbirds depend on nectar as their primary food source, and native plants provide the richest, most accessible nectar.

Go for plants with tubular flowers in red, orange, or pink. Some favorites include bee balm, trumpet vine, salvia, columbine, and cardinal flower. Native plants that produce seeds also attract the insects that nesting birds depend on for feeding their babies. Aim for a mix of plants that bloom at different times so there's always something flowering from early spring through fall.

Trees and shrubs matter too, not just for food but for nesting sites. Having a variety of native trees in your yard gives hummingbirds more options for where to build their nest. Even small ornamental trees can work. For more ideas on prepping your garden in spring, we've got you covered.

Check out our guide on how to plant a hummingbird garden for detailed planting suggestions.

Hummingbird feeders are a great supplement to natural food sources, especially when flowers aren't in bloom. Multiple feeders spread around your yard give more birds access and reduce fighting over territory. Watching the feeding frenzy at a busy feeder is entertaining on its own, and it helps you figure out which birds are nesting nearby.

Keep those feeders clean. Use a vinegar solution every other day in warm areas, and every week in cooler locations to prevent mold and bacteria from building up. This ensures your backyard buffet is safe for your zippy little friends, including any mama hummingbird feeding babies nearby.

Here's a recipe for healthy homemade nectar for your hummingbird feeders.

Want to turn your garden into a hummingbird haven? Skip the harmful pesticides and insecticides. These chemicals can wipe out the tiny insects and spiders that hummingbirds rely on for food and introduce nasty toxins into the environment.

Remember, these birds don't just drink nectar. They need insects and spiders for protein, especially when feeding babies. A healthy yard with natural insect populations is a food source that no feeder can fully replace. Female hummingbirds rely on both nectar and bugs when feeding their young, so a pesticide-free yard gives nesting birds a real advantage.

You can help with nest building by leaving natural materials available. Don't be too tidy with your yard cleanup. Leave some leaf litter, let moss grow on tree branches, and avoid removing spider webs from sheltered spots (the hummingbirds need those).

Some people leave out small bundles of natural fibers, cotton, or pet hair for hummingbirds to collect. It's a nice thought, but honestly, hummers are pretty particular about their materials. The best thing you can do is maintain a yard with plenty of plants, trees, and undisturbed nature so they can find what they need.

Learn more about attracting hummingbirds to your yard during nesting season.

A few more things worth knowing about these tiny nests:

• Breeding season timing: Most hummingbird nesting happens between March and July, though Anna's hummingbirds can start as early as December. Breeding season varies by species and region.
• Same nest or new nest? Some hummingbirds reuse the same nest for multiple broods or across seasons. Others prefer to build a new nest each time. A female may even build a new nest on top of an old one from the same tree.
• Nest weight: A completed hummingbird nest weighs about a tenth of an ounce, roughly the weight of a penny. The two tiny eggs inside weigh about half a gram each.
• Predators: Hummingbird nests face threats from jays, crows, snakes, and cats. The nest's tiny size and camouflage are its best defense. Keeping cats indoors is one of the most impactful things you can do to protect nesting birds.
• Two babies, one nest: Most hummingbird species usually lay two eggs and raise two babies per clutch. If something happens to one baby bird, the mama focuses all her feeding on the remaining chick. After hatching, the babies are completely dependent on the female for food and warmth.

If you find a hummingbird nest, consider joining a citizen science project like NestWatch to help researchers gather data on bird nesting habits. It's a great way to contribute to bird conservation and learn even more about the nesting hummers in your area. Not sure where to start? Our guide to starting a bird journal walks you through what to record and why it matters.

There you have it. The fascinating, tiny, and surprisingly complex world of hummingbird nests. Next time you're out in the yard or watching hummers at your porch feeders, keep an eye on where the female birds fly after feeding. You might just spot one of nature's miniature masterpieces hanging in a tree right above your head. Happy nest watching.