Laying eggs

The female lays one egg, has a day to rest, then lays another. She will only ever lay a maximum of three eggs in one nest. At birth the chicks are just 2.5cm (one inch) in length.

Balancing act

Although the nest is fragile, rather than building them in the crook or fork of a tree for additional support, this hummingbird builds its nest balanced on top of a branch.

Motherhood

The female begins to incubate her eggs once they have been laid. She lovingly cares for her eggs for around 14 to 16 days, but sometimes up to 21 days in colder weather. Once they have hatched, the young are entirely dependent on her for around three weeks until they are ready to leave the nest.

One use only

The nests are so delicate they are only used once, as they are not able to withstand the winter climate, so the female must build a new nest each ti me she is ready to lay eggs.

Safe above ground

The ruby-throated hummingbird builds the nest anywhere from three to 12m (ten to 40ft) above the ground. This keeps the chicks safe from predators on the ground such as cats and foxes.

Multi-tasking

Depending on the weather, in warmer climates, it isn’t uncommon for the ruby-throated hummingbird to create more than one nest at a time, feeding her chicks in one while she lays eggs in another.