Hummingbird Feeding FAQs
Have a question? We've got answers.
Love Hummingbirds?
We do too! Let's talk about it.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Photo: Randy Streufert/Audubon Photography Awards
As these tiny, colorful birds zip through the air, they flap their wings amazingly fast—from 20 to almost 100 times per second. Those rapidly moving wings make the humming noise that gives hummingbirds their name.
Unfortunately, hummingbirds may become less common in the future.
Two-thirds of North American bird species are vulnerable to extinction due to climate change, so hummingbirds like the Allen’s, Rufous, and Calliope may become rarer. It’s part of our mission to protect hummingbirds and ensure they are around for future generations to admire.
2,000
Number of flowers a hummingbird may visit in one day in search of nectar.
3.5
Length (in inches) of most hummingbirds.
2
Number of eggs a hummingbird typically lays.
Our Impact
For more than a century, we’ve preserved bird habitats, conducted scientific research, influenced policymakers to enact commonsense conservation laws, and engaged communities across the hemisphere to protect the natural resources upon which birds—and we—depend. Our approach recognizes that the majority of bird species in the Americas migrate annually between Canada, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Our programs are like the birds—not bound by political boundaries and seamlessly integrated across the Western Hemisphere. We are working to halt, and ultimately reverse, the decline of bird populations across the Americas.
Will you join us?
Protect Birds, Stay Informed
you may also like
How to Create a Hummingbird-Friendly Yard
A little water, a few flowers, and a few perches will bring these tiny dynamos to visit.
Where Do Hummingbirds Go in the Winter?
Some species migrate to far-off places while others keep it local. Here's a rundown of who goes where.
Why Do Hummingbirds Fight So Much?
For hungry hummers in need of nectar to fuel their high-speed lives, territorial disputes can get ugly.
Hummingbird Gorgets: Jewels of the Sky
The glittering, colorful feathers on the throats of male hummingbirds help them attract mates and defend territory. Here's how they work, up-close.
Hummingbird Flight Is Like Nothing Else in the Bird World
These talented fliers can hover, whiz forward and backward, and come to a complete stop in an instant.
The Vibrant Colors of Hummingbirds Are More Impressive Than We’d Realized
Scientists catalogued the hues of 114 avian species. Humans can’t see every shade, but birds can.
Hummingbirds Owe Their Shimmer to Microscopic Pancake-Like Structures
New research shows how extra-complex melanosomes in hummingbird feathers make light dance in fascinating ways.
Hummingbirds Shake Their Tail Feathers to Generate High-Pitched Sounds
Some male hummingbirds have special feathers that audibly vibrate as they zoom around to impress females. Listen here.
When to Expect Hummingbirds in Your Yard This Spring
Flowers are beginning to bloom, and hummingbirds are starting to return from their southern winter sojourns. Here’s a regional guide for when they should arrive and the food they’re seeking.
Scientists Discover World's Largest Hummingbird Hiding in Plain Sight
Groundbreaking research has resulted in a surprising split of the species known as the Giant Hummingbird, and one of the birds just happens to be slightly bigger than the other.
Mites Take Flight on Hummingbird Beaks
Sean Graesser’s larger-than-life photos reveal a fascinating, tiny world where hummingbirds carry passengers aloft.