FaunaHub

Hummingbird

BirdNectar FeederWild

A male Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) with an iridescent pink-red head.

Male Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna).

Image: SarahStierch, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Hummingbirds are tiny, fast-flying birds of the family Trochilidae, found only in the Americas, with more than three hundred species. This page is a group-level overview; Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) is used as a familiar reference. Hummingbirds are famous for hovering in mid-air and for the iridescent, jewel-like colours of many species, and they include some of the smallest birds in the world.

Habitat & Range

Hummingbirds occur across the Americas, from Alaska and Canada to the southern tip of South America, in habitats ranging from gardens and forests to high mountains and deserts — wherever there are suitable flowers. Many species migrate, sometimes over remarkable distances for their size. Habitat and range vary widely across the family.

Diet

Hummingbirds feed largely on nectar, which they take from flowers using a long bill and extendable tongue, and they also eat small insects and spiders for protein. Their high-energy lifestyle demands frequent feeding. As they visit flowers, hummingbirds pollinate many plants. Diet varies by species and season; this page describes general feeding ecology, not feeder recipes.

Behavior

Hummingbirds are extraordinary fliers: they beat their wings very rapidly, can hover precisely, and are among the few birds able to fly backwards. Their hearts and metabolism run extremely fast, and many enter a deep, energy-saving state called torpor at night or in cold conditions. Many are territorial around rich nectar sources. Behaviour varies across the many species.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Hummingbirds are wild birds, not pets, and are protected by wildlife law in many places. They are popular garden visitors where flowers or feeders are available, but feeders should be kept scrupulously clean to avoid spreading disease, and feeding practices should follow local guidance. Some hummingbird species are of conservation concern due to habitat loss; status varies by species and should be checked against current sources.

Appearance & Recognition

Hummingbirds are very small, with slender bills, short legs, and often dazzling iridescent plumage — males of many species have brilliant throat patches (gorgets) that flash in the light. Male Anna's hummingbirds, for example, have a rose-pink head and throat. The combination of tiny size, hovering flight, and iridescence makes hummingbirds easy to recognise as a group, though species can be hard to tell apart.

Similar Animals

Hummingbirds are most closely related to the swifts. They are sometimes confused with large nectar-feeding insects such as hawk-moths, which hover at flowers in a similar way but are insects, not birds. Hummingbirds are unique among FaunaHub's birds for their hovering, nectar-based lifestyle.

Birdwatching hub →Bird feeding basics →

More photos of the hummingbird

An Anna's hummingbird perched on a thin twig.

An Anna's hummingbird at rest.

Image: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Hummingbird

How do hummingbirds hover?
Hummingbirds beat their wings very rapidly and move them in a figure-eight pattern that generates lift on both the forward and backward strokes, letting them hover in place and even fly backwards. This precise flight is energetically costly and is supported by a very fast metabolism.
Should I put up a hummingbird feeder?
Feeders can attract hummingbirds where they occur, but they must be kept scrupulously clean to avoid spreading disease, and feeding should follow local guidance. This page is educational and does not give feeder recipes or universal feeding instructions — check trusted local bird organisations.
Are hummingbirds found outside the Americas?
No. Hummingbirds are found only in the Americas, from Alaska and Canada to southern South America. Birds elsewhere that hover at flowers, such as sunbirds or hawk-moths, are not hummingbirds.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.