What's All the Buzz About Hummingbirds?
By Mayson Smith, Nursery and Botanical Assistant
Hummingbirds are a unique species of birds that often capture the interest of many. When I was a child, I used to see these small critters dash through the air nearly at the speed of light, and I was captivated by the iridescent colors that accompanied these graceful creatures when they zipped through the sunlight.
Part of my fascination with these creatures stemmed from my belief that they were fairies, but when I gained more knowledge about hummers, I truly became enchanted by them. They are agile, adaptable, and adorable! Nevertheless, just like all other organisms in an ecosystem, hummingbirds have an integral role.
Hummingbirds are known as a keystone species. This means that several other species depend on them for survival in one way or another, and if the keystone species were removed from an ecosystem, it would suffer greatly and the extinction of numerous species could be expected. A good example of the hummingbird acting as a keystone species can be seen when it pollinates the Southern Crabapple tree (Malus angustifolia). After pollination, the tree produces crabapples which are utilized as a food source by rabbits, deer, foxes, mice, crows, and the list goes on! On top of being a keystone species – which is comparable to a badge of honor in the realm of Environmental Science – hummers have a powerful symbiotic relationship with nectar producing plants.
Over the eons of life on Earth, certain species have evolved in a mutually dependent manner with other species; this is commonly referred to as coevolution. Hummers and nectar producing flowers have coevolved together. Here in North America, there are 200 species of nectar producing plants; 150 of those 200 plant species rely on hummers for pollination, seed dispersal, and regeneration. This means that the hummers and the flowers could not exist without one another. In addition to being in a serious symbiotic relationship and acting as a keystone species, hummers play yet another important role in the ecosystem - a food source for predators.
Hummers face predation from before the time that they hatch. Bats, snakes, crows, squirrels, bluejays, and chipmunks have been known to snack on hummingbird eggs. As adults, hummers that fly a little too low can be eaten by fish, frogs, and lizards (oh my!). Even the adult hummers that are not eliminated from the ecosystem via predation face quite a large challenge: finding enough food per day to survive.
On average, a hummer weighs between 4 and 8 grams. Due to their sky-high metabolism, they must consume half of their body weight in nectar (and sometimes bugs) in order to stay alive. This means that they must eat every 10-15 minutes. Visiting up to 2,000 flowers daily to meet their nutritional requirements is not unusual for hummers. Interestingly enough, hummers have an excellent memory and can remember every single flower and feeder they visit. A few of their favorite native flowers include Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Jewel Weed (Impatiens capensis), and Red Buckeyes (Aesculus pavia). Here in Tennessee, 9 species of hummingbirds have been recorded; the most prolific species is the Ruby Throated Hummingbird.
If you’re interested in planting a beautiful variety of native plants to attract hummingbirds, stop by our Native Plant Nursery Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm ET and our staff will be happy to help you find what you’re looking for and answer any questions!