Introduction to Hummingbirds
It’s amazing what we don’t know about hummingbirds. Did you know that the nests of about 31% of the most threatened and endangered species are still a mystery to researchers? Or that 67% of these species have never been seen in human-made habitats such as gardens, parks, agricultural fields, or at artificial feeders?
Educating students of all ages about hummingbirds and their conservation needs while also providing opportunities to engage in hummingbird-inspired scientific investigations is a primary goal of HCNs. Learning about the natural world increases understanding about the “give and take” reciprocity of the living environment, such as the pollination interaction between hummingbirds and the flowers that they visit, and establishes a particular appreciation for the coexistence of humans and wildlife.
In an effort to make education more accessible to anyone interested in hummingbirds, HCNs is building a centralized database of hummingbird-related resources that will be available through our website. You can expect to find monitoring reports, educational content, HMN's published research papers, and more!
These resources can be found here. If you would like to share or reuse any of this content for educational purposes, we do ask that you please contact us first for permission. If you're looking for quick facts about hummingbirds, check out our About Hummingbirds page as well!
Educating students of all ages about hummingbirds and their conservation needs while also providing opportunities to engage in hummingbird-inspired scientific investigations is a primary goal of HCNs. Learning about the natural world increases understanding about the “give and take” reciprocity of the living environment, such as the pollination interaction between hummingbirds and the flowers that they visit, and establishes a particular appreciation for the coexistence of humans and wildlife.
In an effort to make education more accessible to anyone interested in hummingbirds, HCNs is building a centralized database of hummingbird-related resources that will be available through our website. You can expect to find monitoring reports, educational content, HMN's published research papers, and more!
These resources can be found here. If you would like to share or reuse any of this content for educational purposes, we do ask that you please contact us first for permission. If you're looking for quick facts about hummingbirds, check out our About Hummingbirds page as well!
Hummingbird Biology & Behavior
With more than 335 species, hummingbirds are the second most diverse lineage of birds in the Americas and are the primary lineage of avian pollinators. By their very existence, hummingbirds benefit humans, but over 15% of hummingbird species are threatened or endangered. Their physical characteristics and ecological adaptations make their pollinator lifestyle unique--so much so that survey techniques used to understand population trends of other birds are generally ineffective for hummingbirds. Hummingbirds’ small size, significant physiological constraints, pollinator lifestyle, high-pitched vocalizations, and unique flight abilities are just some of the traits that require specialized techniques to monitor their populations.
All hummingbirds face habitat loss and degradation of their nectar corridors as millions of acres of vegetation continue to be lost to extensive agriculture, urban sprawl, and climate change. Here at HMN, we can’t imagine life without them; we inherently benefit from hummingbirds. Is it not time for us to fulfill our obligations and help them survive, reproduce, and thrive?
A hummingbird’s right to live should be just as accessible as a hummingbird’s tendency to inspire and fascinate—especially those who observe and live among them. Southwest author and journalist, Chuck Bowden, shared this experience of the profound impact of hummingbirds on people’s lives (published in his memoriam in January 2015, Arizona Highways):
“As a boy, I’d walk the dog under a tree in the corner of the park at twilight and hummingbirds would hover just over my head. I knew nothing of their customs or various nations then. But my boy’s eyes glimpsed an open door as the night came down and the promise of what I could be and learn if I left the everyday world and spun up into the sky.”
All hummingbirds face habitat loss and degradation of their nectar corridors as millions of acres of vegetation continue to be lost to extensive agriculture, urban sprawl, and climate change. Here at HMN, we can’t imagine life without them; we inherently benefit from hummingbirds. Is it not time for us to fulfill our obligations and help them survive, reproduce, and thrive?
A hummingbird’s right to live should be just as accessible as a hummingbird’s tendency to inspire and fascinate—especially those who observe and live among them. Southwest author and journalist, Chuck Bowden, shared this experience of the profound impact of hummingbirds on people’s lives (published in his memoriam in January 2015, Arizona Highways):
“As a boy, I’d walk the dog under a tree in the corner of the park at twilight and hummingbirds would hover just over my head. I knew nothing of their customs or various nations then. But my boy’s eyes glimpsed an open door as the night came down and the promise of what I could be and learn if I left the everyday world and spun up into the sky.”
Conservation & Threats
Forests are the primary habitats for over 80% of hummingbird species and these woodlands have the highest number of at-risk hummingbird species. Loss of forest habitat either by direct destruction or alteration by invasive plants is of great concern. Modification of hummingbird habitats continues to increase and will likely change the distribution and viability of hummingbird communities.
Conservation needs of hummingbird populations are similar to other animal populations: They need resources and habitats for their survival, successful reproduction, and maintaining thriving populations. Three primary threats—global climate change, invasive species, and habitat destruction--signal the highest concern for hummingbirds. All hummingbirds face habitat loss and degradation of their nectar corridors as millions of acres of vegetation continue to be lost to extensive agriculture, logging, urban development, and climate change.
Because hummingbirds are pollinators and depend almost completely on nectar for their energy supply, their survival depends upon reliable sources of suitable nectar-producing plants. Perhaps the greatest threat to hummingbird survival is the effect of changing climates on flowering phenology, where even minor changes in climate can produce large decreases in nectar availability and in blooming dates that may decouple the mutualism between hummingbirds and the plants they pollinate.
In addition to nectar, hummingbirds prey upon insects for their main source of protein, but there are large gaps in our knowledge about the real dietary importance of insects. For many hummingbird species, aquatic insects are important prey items during the nesting cycle; thus, management of water resources is likely an important conservation issue as well.
Despite their wide distribution and cultural popularity of hummingbirds, knowledge of their basic life history and biology has many fundamental gaps. For many species, gaps in breeding biology need to become a priority for future research. For example, nests are un-described for over 60% of the 48 currently threatened or endangered hummingbird species. Additionally, the physiology of hummingbirds during reproduction is almost completely unknown and habitat requirements for all life phases are not fully understood for most species.
Finally, trend data for most hummingbird species are insufficient or non-existent. Existing long-term population trend data are considered adequate for only 4 of the 16 species that regularly breed in the US and Canada. To maintain thriving hummingbird populations, it is important to understand (1) trends in hummingbird distribution, abundance, and movement patterns; (2) population dynamics, such as survivorship, productivity, and other demographic factors; (3) the effects of broader resource changes on hummingbirds; and (4) emerging threats or problems.
Conservation needs of hummingbird populations are similar to other animal populations: They need resources and habitats for their survival, successful reproduction, and maintaining thriving populations. Three primary threats—global climate change, invasive species, and habitat destruction--signal the highest concern for hummingbirds. All hummingbirds face habitat loss and degradation of their nectar corridors as millions of acres of vegetation continue to be lost to extensive agriculture, logging, urban development, and climate change.
Because hummingbirds are pollinators and depend almost completely on nectar for their energy supply, their survival depends upon reliable sources of suitable nectar-producing plants. Perhaps the greatest threat to hummingbird survival is the effect of changing climates on flowering phenology, where even minor changes in climate can produce large decreases in nectar availability and in blooming dates that may decouple the mutualism between hummingbirds and the plants they pollinate.
In addition to nectar, hummingbirds prey upon insects for their main source of protein, but there are large gaps in our knowledge about the real dietary importance of insects. For many hummingbird species, aquatic insects are important prey items during the nesting cycle; thus, management of water resources is likely an important conservation issue as well.
Despite their wide distribution and cultural popularity of hummingbirds, knowledge of their basic life history and biology has many fundamental gaps. For many species, gaps in breeding biology need to become a priority for future research. For example, nests are un-described for over 60% of the 48 currently threatened or endangered hummingbird species. Additionally, the physiology of hummingbirds during reproduction is almost completely unknown and habitat requirements for all life phases are not fully understood for most species.
Finally, trend data for most hummingbird species are insufficient or non-existent. Existing long-term population trend data are considered adequate for only 4 of the 16 species that regularly breed in the US and Canada. To maintain thriving hummingbird populations, it is important to understand (1) trends in hummingbird distribution, abundance, and movement patterns; (2) population dynamics, such as survivorship, productivity, and other demographic factors; (3) the effects of broader resource changes on hummingbirds; and (4) emerging threats or problems.
