Hummingbirds, with their iridescent plumage and rapid wingbeats, are captivating creatures. Despite their aerial agility and high metabolism, these tiny birds are integral to complex food webs and face numerous threats from various predators in their natural habitats. Their small size, typically only 3-4 grams, makes them potential prey for a surprising array of animals.
Avian Predators
Small, agile raptors like the Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, and Merlin are well-adapted to catching fast-moving birds. These predatory birds often use ambush tactics, lurking in dense foliage before launching swift attacks. Larger songbirds, such as Loggerhead Shrikes, also opportunistically hunt hummingbirds, known for impaling their prey on thorns or barbed wire. Even Greater Roadrunners have been observed waiting near feeders and jumping to snatch unsuspecting hummingbirds. These avian hunters demonstrate that hummingbirds, despite their speed, are not immune to aerial threats.
Terrestrial Hunters
Ground-dwelling animals also pose significant dangers to hummingbirds, particularly when the birds are feeding or nesting closer to the ground. Domestic and feral cats are a common threat, often preying on hummingbirds near human habitation and feeders. Snakes, especially those capable of climbing, present a danger to hummingbird nests, consuming eggs and chicks. Some snake species can also ambush adult hummingbirds near flowers or feeders. Small mammals like squirrels can also raid nests for eggs or young, despite primarily being seed-eaters.
Insect Ambushers
Some insects are formidable predators of hummingbirds, often employing clever ambush strategies. Praying mantises are predators, often positioning themselves on flowers or hummingbird feeders, using their lightning-fast strike and strong, spiked forelegs to capture and consume hummingbirds. Reports indicate that once caught, only a small percentage of hummingbirds escape mantises. Large orb-weaver spiders can also ensnare hummingbirds in their webs, especially if the birds become entangled while collecting spider silk for nest building. While rare, large dragonflies, such as the common green darner, have been observed preying on hummingbirds. These instances often occur near water sources where both species coexist.
Hummingbird Survival Strategies
Hummingbirds employ several strategies for survival against predators, with remarkable agility and speed being primary defenses that allow them to evade threats through erratic flight. They often build their tiny, cup-shaped nests in camouflaged locations, using materials like moss, lichen, and spider silk to blend seamlessly with branches, making the nests difficult for predators to spot. Some species even build nests near active hawk nests; the presence of hawks deters nest-robbing birds like jays, indirectly protecting the hummingbirds. Hummingbirds also exhibit defensive behaviors, such as mobbing larger birds or aggressively defending their feeding territories. During cold nights or periods of food scarcity, they can enter a state of torpor, drastically lowering their body temperature and metabolic rate to conserve energy, though this also makes them temporarily vulnerable to predators; selecting safe nesting sites, often on thin, forked branches or in dense foliage, further contributes to the protection of their vulnerable eggs and chicks.