The Baby HummingbirdA baby hummingbird is truly a wonder of nature. They begin life as the smallest eggs in the world. Weighing approximately 0.62 grams these white non-glossy eggs are less than ½ inch long. 
Their small size is often compared to a jelly bean. The mother hummingbird usually lays only two eggs. Occasionally, there may be only one. Two is probably the best number of eggs for one hummingbird to care for. She incubates the eggs for about 2 weeks.......longer in colder climates. This is a relatively long time for a bird incubation. When baby hummingbirds are still in their eggs, they have strong neck muscles and a hook on their short bill in order to peck their way out. Hummingbird babies are born blind and naked without feathers. At first, the hummingbird mother will keep her babies warm by sitting on the nest. Have you ever watched any baby birds feed? Did you know that many chicks including hummingbirds can feel the wind from the wing of their mother as she approaches the nest. So although, they are born blind, this is how they know to lift up their tiny heads and open their hungry mouths. The newborns cannot feed on their own. The mother inserts her beak into the throats of her babies dropping the regurgitated insects and nectar.
Since these babies grow quickly (doubling in size everyday during those first days), she can soon leave the nest more frequently in order to catch insects and gather nectar to feed them. As the chicks get older the mother spends extended periods away from the nest. After they grow, she begins to give the chicks independence.
Sometimes, she watches them from a nearby branch. If you are fortunate to see this, there is no need for any rescue. Instead you can enjoy hosting your young hummingbird family. Once they fly away, they won’t return to the nest again. For a few more days, hummingbird mothers continue nurturing their young. They remain close, leading them to the best food sources. I actually had the privilege of seeing this: One day as I was looking out at the hummingbird feeder on my back porch, I saw a female come close as if to sip nectar. However, she only hovered nearby signaling her baby hummingbird to the feeder. After the baby had it's fill, the older hummingbird took her turn. We hope that as you learn about the habits of hummingbirds, you will begin to notice a variety of behaviors to enhance your enjoyment even more.
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