The ruby throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a small, nimble bird found throughout eastern North America. Despite its tiny size, averaging only 3-4 inches in length, the ruby throated hummingbird faces threats from a variety of predators. Understanding the key predators that target hummingbirds can help us better protect these marvelous little birds.
Summary of ruby throated hummingbird predators
The main predators of ruby throated hummingbirds include:
- Birds – Hawks, falcons, crows, jays, grackles, etc.
- Mammals – Squirrels, chipmunks, mice, weasels, raccoons, cats, etc.
- Reptiles – Snakes
- Insects – Praying mantises, dragonflies, robber flies
Young hummingbirds in the nest are especially vulnerable to attack from predators. As adults, hummingbirds rely on their speed and agility to escape danger, but can still fall prey especially when weakened or old.
Bird predators
Many predatory birds seek out ruby throated hummingbirds for food. Birds of prey including falcons, hawks and owls frequently prey on hummingbirds. Crows, jays, grackles and other clever omnivorous birds may raid hummingbird nests for eggs and chicks.
Here are some of the most common bird predators of ruby throated hummingbirds:
- Sharp-shinned hawks – These small woodland hawks specialize in catching smaller bird species like hummingbirds.
- Cooper’s hawks – Larger than sharp-shins, Cooper’s hawks also prey on small birds including hummingbirds in woodlands.
- Merlin – This small falcon is a fast, agile hunter that eats small birds.
- Peregrine falcons – The fastest animal on earth, peregrines can hit hummingbirds in mid-flight.
- American kestrels – Often seen perched along wires, kestrels pounce on birds and insects.
- Crows – Intelligent and opportunistic, crows eat eggs, nestlings and occasionally adult hummingbirds.
- Blue jays – Like crows, jays raid nests and may eat adult hummingbirds.
- Common grackles – Grackles steal eggs and chicks from nests.
Birds of prey catch hummingbirds on the wing, using their sharp talons to grab and dispatch the hummingbirds swiftly. Crows, jays and grackles raid nests of eggs and chicks, and may occasionally mob and kill an adult hummingbird.
Methods birds use to catch hummingbirds
Different bird predators have various strategies for catching the fast-moving ruby throated hummingbird:
- Ambush attack – Hawks and falcons perch quietly then rapidly dive upon prey.
- Pursuit – Falcons like the peregrine chase down birds at high speeds.
- Mobbing – Crows or grackles may work together to distract a hummingbird to catch it.
- Nest raiding – Jays, crows and grackles steal eggs and baby birds from the nest.
Birds of prey such as sharp-shinned hawks use ambush tactics, perching inconspicuously and scanning for prey. When a hummingbird comes near, the hawk launches into a swift dive to grab it with its talons. The hawk then carries the hummingbird to a perch and consumes it.
Peregrine falcons are amongst the fastest flying birds. Rather than ambush tactics, they pursue prey in flight, hitting speeds over 200 mph in their hunting stoop as they dive down on hummingbirds from above.
Crows, jays and grackles lack the speed and talons of birds of prey. Instead, they may mob hummingbirds in groups, distracting them to more easily grab them. But most often they raid nests for eggs and helpless chicks.
Mammal predators
In addition to predatory birds, ruby throated hummingbirds face predation threats from some mammals.
Small mammals including squirrels, chipmunks, mice and weasels are able to access hummingbird nests, stealing eggs and chicks for food. Larger mammals like raccoons sometimes raid nests as well.
Some rodents such as flying squirrels are adept climbers, giving them access to hanging nests other animals can’t reach. Chipmunks and mice can climb trees and shrubs too or access low nests.
Tree squirrels rarely consume adult hummingbirds but are notorious nest predators. They dine on the eggs and baby birds. Squirrels locate nests visually as well as by scent.
Weasels including long-tailed weasels and ermine are agile mammals that climb and hunt in trees and shrubs, making hummingbirds vulnerable. Their slender bodies allow access to nests other animals can’t penetrate.
Raccoons use their dexterous paws to locate and ransack hummingbird nests at night while the birds are sleeping.
Domestic and feral cats also hunt adult hummingbirds as well as raid nests. Cats have excellent night vision and can detect bird nests by scent.
Other mammal threats
In addition to eating hummingbirds, mammals also contribute to predation indirectly:
- Snakes – Mammals disturbing nests may expose chicks and eggs to snakes.
- Making birds flee – Mammals near a nest may repeatedly scare parent birds away, leaving chicks hungry.
- Eating insects – Rodents take away food sources like bugs that hummingbirds depend on.
Snakes hunt by ambush and rely on mammals to disturb nests and expose the chicks for them to grab. Rodents near a nest may continuously make parent hummingbirds flee the area to avoid becoming prey themselves, unfortunately resulting in starvation of the nestlings.
Lastly, hummingbirds rely heavily on eating insects for food. Mice, squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents also compete for these insect foods, indirectly affecting hummingbird survival.
Reptile predators
There are a couple reptilian predators of ruby throated hummingbirds to be aware of. The main reptile predators are snakes.
Like mammals, snakes raid hummingbird nests and consume eggs and chicks. Some snakes may eat adult hummingbirds, though they more typically target the young.
Snakes including rat snakes, racers, milk snakes, king snakes and others climb shrubs and trees to access hanging nests. Most snake predation happens in the nest, targeting the eggs and helpless nestlings.
A few key snakes known to prey on hummingbirds include:
- Rat snakes – Excellent climbers, rat snakes raid bird nests for eggs.
- Racer snakes – Racers are active foragers and climbers able to access hanging nests.
- Milk snakes – Adaptable milk snakes eat various prey including young birds.
- King snakes – King snakes are accomplished nest raiders and climbers.
In addition to directly eating hummingbirds, snakes also gain access to nests when mammals disturb and expose the location.
Lizard threats
While not frequent or common, large lizards like monitor lizards occasionally eat hummingbirds. Monitor lizards climb trees and shrubs and have a varied diet including birds.
Overall though, lizards do not actively hunt hummingbirds. Snakes are the main reptilian threat to ruby throated hummingbirds.
Insect predators
Though small in size, insects make up for it with their ferocity and speed. A few notable insect predators of hummingbirds include praying mantises, dragonflies and robber flies.
Praying mantises sometimes prey on hummingbirds that come within striking range, using their spiked forelegs to snatch and immobilize them. They often eat hummingbirds at feeders while lying in wait camouflaged on a nearby plant.
Dragonflies are quick flying insects that outmaneuver hummingbirds and grasp them with spiked legs. They may eat hummingbirds at feeders as well.
Lastly, robber flies are speedy predators that intercept hummingbirds in midair. The robber fly uses its strong jaws to bite and make a meal of the hummingbird.
While not common or frequent predators, insects do occasionally catch hummingbirds. Their speed and proximity at feeders put hummingbirds in harm’s way.
How do predators catch hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds face threats from predators in various situations. Predators use a variety of tactics to catch these quick, nimble birds:
- Surprise attacks – Hawks surprise hummingbirds by remaining hidden in wait to ambush.
- Pursuit – Falcons chase down hummingbirds at high speeds to catch them.
- Distraction – Crows or jays may swarm and distract hummingbirds.
- Blending in – Snakes conceal themselves in vegetation near nests.
- Chance encounters – Insects like mantises grab hummingbirds at random close encounters near feeders.
To summarize, birds of prey rely on tactics like surprise ambush attacks and rapid pursuit of hummingbirds in flight. Snakes hide stealthily near nests to snatch eggs and chicks.
Crows, jays and grackles use mobbing distraction to disorient hummingbirds. Insects depend on chance encounters near feeders and flowers to gain an opportunity to grab hummingbirds.
Vulnerable life stages
While adult hummingbirds fall prey to some predators, the young in the nest face the most danger. Life stages when ruby throated hummingbirds are most vulnerable include:
- Eggs – Helpless in the nest, eggs are easy prey for snakes, mammals, crows, etc.
- Nestlings – Flightless chicks in the nest lack escape options and are easy to catch.
- Fledglings – Young newly out of the nest have weak flying skills, making them vulnerable.
As eggs and chicks in the nest, hummingbirds are unable to escape danger. Even once out of the nest as fledglings, young hummingbirds are still developing essential survival skills.
Adult hummingbirds are vulnerable too, but generally less so than young birds and eggs thanks to their unrivaled flying abilities.
Highest threat predators
While many animals eat hummingbirds opportunistically, these predators pose the greatest overall threats:
- Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks – Ambush predators adept at catching birds.
- Crows – Very common and intelligent, expert nest raiders.
- Squirrels – Abundant and agile, accustomed to bird eggs.
- Snakes – Skilled climbers targeting eggs and chicks.
In terms of birds, sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks specialize in preying on smaller birds like hummingbirds. For mammals, squirrels are ubiquitous predators. Snakes are the most dangerous of the herptiles. Crows stand out as intelligent and plentiful nest raiders.
Predation rates and impact
Though many animals prey on hummingbirds, most documented predation involves nests. Overall predation has a moderate impact on most hummingbird populations.
One study found:
- 38% of hummingbird nests were predated
- 12% of juvenile hummingbirds were lost to predators after leaving nest
The main nest predators were snakes (20%) and squirrels (10%). Predation happens but does not usually severely threaten hummingbird numbers.
However, raiding of nests may have a greater localized impact. One nest site saw 64% of hummingbird nests predated one year. Targeted nest predation in an area could reduce reproductive success.
While healthy adult hummingbirds are less vulnerable, elderly, young and sick birds face higher risks from predators.
How to protect hummingbirds from predators
Here are some tips to help safeguard hummingbirds against their main predator threats:
- Avoid clustering feeders together – this draws predators
- Clean feeders regularly to prevent insects
- Keep bushes trimmed around feeders
- Use guards/baffles on feeder poles to deter climbing animals
- Keep cats indoors
- Use wire mesh guards around nests if feasible
- Avoid disturbing/exposing nests
- Plant stands of shrubs and small trees to provide cover
Good feeding practices like spacing/rotating feeders and keeping them clean help minimize predator dangers. Discouraging access to feeders with baffles and trim vegetation also helps.
Protection of nests is also key. Keeping cats inside reduces a significant threat. Wire mesh guards can protect from snakes and climbing mammals. Leaving vegetation around nests intact provides concealment.
Providing plant cover via stands of shrubs and small trees gives hummingbirds a quick escape option from predators.
Key takeaways
To summarize key facts about ruby throated hummingbird predators:
- Young hummingbirds and eggs in nests are most vulnerable to predation
- Sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawks and peregrine falcons are major bird predators
- Squirrels, chipmunks, weasels and snakes commonly raid nests
- Crows, jays and grackles also target eggs and chicks
- Insects like praying mantises occasionally prey on hummingbirds
- Snakes ambush nests while hawks surprise hummingbirds in flight
- Though threats exist, predation generally does not severely impact populations
- Nest and feeder protection can help reduce risks to hummingbirds
In summary, the tiny ruby throated hummingbird faces predation from a variety of sources. However, by understanding the main threats hummingbirds face, we can take measures to improve their safety.
Conclusion
The ruby throated hummingbird’s diminutive size does not protect it from predators. Birds of prey like hawks and falcons prey on hummingbirds. Mammals including squirrels, chipmunks, weasels and cats raid nests. Snakes target eggs and chicks. Crows, jays and grackles steal young too. Even insects like praying mantises occasionally catch hummingbirds. Overall though, predation has a moderate impact for most hummingbird populations. Focusing protection efforts at nests and feeders can help reduce threats and give hummingbirds a better chance to thrive despite the many animals eying them as prey.