Hummingbird Predators
Are there really any hummingbird predators?.........
Hummingbirds are tiny and extremely fast. They have remarkable flight abilities. Yet, they do still have some predators.
It’s a Trap!
Female hummingbirds use spider webs in nest building. It is sad but true that they sometimes get caught in these spider webs and never get free. They become prey to the spiders in the same way as insects.
Caught by a Thief......
Insects as Hummingbird Predators
Robber Fly - a 4 inch fly that can wrap its wings around a hummingbird preventing it from flying away. Then it kills the hummingbird without much problem.
Dragonfly - I was personally worried about these hummingbird predators. We live near a lake and have a lot of dragonflies in our backyard. I was relieved to learn that there are only a few reports of dragonflies killing hummingbirds. Actually, there isn’t any real proof that this very light insect could carry the weight of a hummingbird.
Praying Mantis - specifically the large Chinese Mantis was imported from China and released in gardens as a predator on insects that eat ornamental plants.
I find this to be a concern. It seems a good idea to check into the possibilities of what other prey these insects might have their eyes on with each release.
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You might see a praying mantis on your hummingbird feeder ready to strike. |
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These insects are capable of grabbing hummingbirds with their spine-lined forelegs and eating them. |
Please note that this is rare because hummingbirds can often speedily get away. They have even been seen aggressively defending feeders from these killers.
Don’t Croak!
This is not really a pun. Hummingbirds have been found in the stomach of Bullfrogs. Often times, our friends fly too high and fast to be caught by bullfrogs. You can help to prevent disaster by providing water for hummingbirds helping to keep them away from the water source of frogs.
Don’t Fly Away
Big birds such as hawks, owls, crows, roadrunners, orioles, grackles, gulls, and herons can be hummingbird predators. Again, hummingbirds are aggressive and have been known to fend off large hawks and other birds from their territories.
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