June: Raising Babies

June: Raising Babies
In June, a female hummingbird is busy! She does it all: lays and incubates two eggs, broods the babies in the nest, feeds them small insects and spiders, leads them to good flowers after they fledge, and keeps feeding them until they are independent. The babies grow inside the egg for 12-14 days before hatching. They are born naked and have eyes closed until about 9 days of age. At 16 days of age they are 8 times bigger than when they were born. Finally, they fly out of the nest at 21 or 22 days of age. They will start sleeping on a leafy branch, protected from wind and rain. A female may raise two or even three broods in a summer.

Rubythroated Hummingbird Nestlings

Image: V. Stuve


Overview: The Annual Cycle of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird
January	February	March	April	May	June
July	August	September	October	November	December
June: Raising Babies In June, a female hummingbird is busy! She does it all: lays and incubates two eggs, broods the babies in the nest, feeds them small insects and spiders, leads them to good flowers after they fledge, and keeps feeding them until they are independent. The babies grow inside the egg for 12-14 days before hatching. They are born naked and have eyes closed until about 9 days of age. At 16 days of age they are 8 times bigger than when they were born. Finally, they fly out of the nest at 21 or 22 days of age. They will start sleeping on a leafy branch, protected from wind and rain. A female may raise two or even three broods in a summer. Image: V. Stuve