Backyard Birds

How Long do Hummingbirds Live?

How Long do Hummingbirds Live? Lifespan?

The average hummingbird lives for 3 – 5 years. The lifespan in the wild varies by hummingbird species, for most, it is about 3 to 5 years. Larger species can live over a decade.

Hummingbirds have long lifespans for organisms with such rapid metabolisms.

Vervain Hummingbird (Mellisuga minima)

Recorded Longest Living Hummingbirds

Predation

However, many don’t make it through their first year. They are particularly vulnerable in the period between hatching and leaving the nest (fledging).

Various larger birds, snakes, and mammals raid their nests for eggs and chicks.

Animals are known to prey on adults, their eggs, and young, include:

  • cats
  • birds (small hawks, owls, shrikes, roadrunners, orioles, tanagers, large flycatchers, grackles, herons, gulls)
  • largemouth bass (fish) – which will catch small birds close to the water surface
  • green frogs and bullfrogs
  • spiders and praying mantises.

Hummingbird Resources


Beauty Of Birds strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please contact us. THANK YOU!!!

 
 
 

Gordon Ramel

Gordon is an ecologist with two degrees from Exeter University. He's also a teacher, a poet and the owner of 1,152 books. Oh - and he wrote this website.

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