13 Common Hummingbird Myths You Need To Ignore

Knowing true facts over false claims about hummingbirds will make the difference between harming or saving your hummingbird friends. Becoming informed will not only add to colorful conversation but will provide insight and will help correct the record on some common hummingbird misconceptions and myths.

In this article, I discover true hummingbird facts behind the most common fictions and misconceptions of these beautiful species.

What are some hummingbird myths I can ignore?

• A mother hummingbird will abandon her babies if touched by a human.
• If a hummingbird hangs upside down it is dead.
• Hummingbirds and bees get along.
• Hummingbirds use their beaks like straws to drink nectar.
• Hummingbirds have feet and can walk around like other birds.
• Hummingbirds are not very smart because they have tiny brains.
• The honking sound a hummingbird makes while performing a dive display is vocal.
• To encourage natural migration, hummingbird feeders should be removed by early fall.
• Hummingbirds only drink nectar from flowers. They do not eat bugs.
• Commercially purchased hummingbird nectar with added vitamins is good for your hummingbird.
• Adding honey to homemade nectar is safe for hummingbirds.
• Commercially purchased hummingbird nectar using red food dye is fresh and healthy.
• Red base hummingbird feeders with yellow flowers attracts hummingbirds.

Myth #1
A mother hummingbird will abandon her babies if touched by a human.

We were told as youths to leave nature alone. By touching a baby hummingbird the mother will smell the human scent and will stop visiting her nest or attending to her babies. It is a common misconception that even I have fallen victim to because of this classic myth.

A mother hummingbird will not abandon her babies if they are touched by a human. Hummingbirds have a very limited sense of smell and do not recognize human scent. If a nest or chicks are touched, the mother is likely to return and continue caring for her young, as her primary instinct is to ensure their survival.

Hummingbirds have a very limited sense of smell. They compensate with excellent vision and taste. Research suggests that their olfactory abilities are minimal compared to their reliance on other senses. However, they can detect certain odors that may help them avoid potential dangers.

Hummingbirds primarily rely on their keen eyesight to locate bright-colored flowers or feeders and their taste receptors to determine nectar quality. Their exceptional visual and taste abilities make up for their limited sense of smell in foraging and survival.

If you encounter a situation where a baby hummingbird has fallen out of its nest, it is perfectly safe to touch and return the baby to the nest. This will not be discourage the mother from coming back to attend to her young.

Depending on the developmental stage of a baby hummingbird, newborn babies are naked without any pin feathers. They cannot regulate their own body temperature and need to be kept warm.
Older adolescent hummingbirds can regulate their body temperature.

Some examples where a human may pick up a baby hummingbird is when the nest becomes cramped as the baby hummingbirds grow and they may fall out accidentally. Other times a strong wind can knock the babies out of their nest. Even when the fledglings begin to spread their wings and prepare for flight, they may unintentionally fall out of their nest.

The best thing you can do, if you feel confident, is safely scooping and returning the baby hummingbird back to its home.
This does not mean you can randomly touch hummingbirds, but if necessary, it is OK to touch baby hummingbirds without using gloves.

Keep an eye on the babies for a few days and wait patiently for the mother hummingbird to come back and feed her young after you have returned them safely to their nest.
She should return to the nest to feed her young every 20-30 minutes.

If, after a reasonable amount of time has passed and you are still concerned for a baby hummingbird’s overall health and well-being and feel they need medical or emergency care, check your local animal hospital, shelters or local hummingbird organization for assistance.

Read my article:
Is it Safe for a Human to Touch a Hummingbird?

Myth #2
If a hummingbird hangs upside down it is dead.

If a hummingbird hangs upside down, it does not mean it is dead. Hummingbirds can enter a state called torpor (sleep), a form of deep rest used to conserve energy, especially during cold nights or when food is scarce.
In this state, their metabolism slows significantly, and they can hang upside down or appear lifeless.

How to Tell if a Hummingbird Is in Torpor:

• Time of Day: Torpor usually occurs at night or early morning.
• Physical Signs: The bird is still, with no visible movement but may show faint signs of breathing.
• Recovery: As the day warms up, the hummingbird should wake and return to normal activity.

A hummingbird may occasionally go into torpor too early on a feeder before dusk. When this happens, they can still sit on the feeder with no movement or hang upside down. This does not mean that a hummingbird is dead even though all your senses are telling you otherwise.

At this point, there is nothing you can physically do to help in the situation. The hummingbirds feet securely grasp the feeder, preventing them from falling off.

One of two things can occur.
If the hummingbird is successful and makes it through the night all in one piece, the next phase is for them to wake up from torpor in the morning.
The least amount of time it takes hummingbirds to recover from torpor is 20 min.
If the hummingbird is still in torpor at a feeder and unsuccessful at seeking appropriate shelter at night, nocturnal wildlife such as praying mantises, or cats, have an easy meal and will put a hummingbird’s life in jeopardy.

Many people witness hummingbirds hanging upside down from a feeder and successfully wake up from torpor in the morning. They will magically wake up from their deep sleep, perch upright on the feeder until they get their bearings and eventually access the nectar at their disposal to slowly wake up.

Read my article:
Hummingbird Slumber: The Secret to Conserving Energy at Night

Myth #3
Hummingbirds and bees get along.

Hummingbirds and bees generally do not get along, as they compete for nectar and do not share resources.

Bees, along with wasps and ants can dominate feeders, making it difficult for hummingbirds to feed. Most likely you will see bees chase hummingbirds away.
Bees are unwelcome guests.

Hummingbirds will visit less often because they do not want to compete for the nectar.
Having bees and insects linger around a crowded hummingbird feeder is unattractive.

Finding bees around your hummingbird feeder is common especially during the summer time if your homemade nectar is too sweet. Bees will also remain or linger around your feeder in search of water. Providing a bee-friendly watering station will decrease or eliminate bees coming to your hummingbird feeder for water.
If a bee problem persists decrease the ratio to 1 part sugar to 5 parts water (instead of 1:4).

Remove leaky hummingbird feeders and clean them regularly to reduce and limit the confrontation, interaction and health concerns between both parties. Hummingbirds and bees are important in our ecosystem for helping with pollination but they prefer having their own spaces.

Read my article:
Bees On My Hummingbird Feeder: (9 Tips To Get Rid of Them)

Myth #4
Hummingbirds use their beaks like straws to drink nectar.

Hummingbirds do not use their beaks like straws to drink nectar. This is a common misconception. Instead, they use their specialized tongues to draw nectar into their mouths.

How Hummingbirds Drink:

• Tongue Shape: Their tongues are long and narrow with two grooves or tube-like structures. The tongue is double the length of their beaks.
• Capillary Action: As the tongue extends into the nectar, it uses capillary action and rapid flicking to trap the liquid.
• Flicking Motion: The tongue flicks in and out of the nectar at a rate of up to 13 times per second.
• Nectar Transport: The grooves in the tongue close when retracted, bringing the nectar back into the mouth. The tiny hairs on the tip of their tongue helps them gain access and absorb nectar from bright tubular flowers.

This efficient drinking mechanism allows hummingbirds to consume large amounts of nectar quickly to fuel their high-energy lifestyle.

Hummingbird hydration is typically satisfied by the nectar they drink during the day. On occasion, they find other water sources such as rainfall, residue from watered plants or fountains. Any water that they may happen to consume while part taking in a bath or luxuriously sipping extra fluids from a recently hydrated petal is an added bonus, but is not necessary for survival.

Read my article:
Hummingbird Diet: From Nectar to Insects

Myth #5
Hummingbirds have feet and can walk around like other birds.

Hummingbirds cannot walk around like other birds. Their legs and feet are small and weak, adapted primarily for perching on branches or hummingbird feeders rather than walking or hopping.
A hummingbird’s strength is flying with their feet neatly tucked underneath them.

Hummingbird legs are primarily used for:

• Perching: Gripping branches, wires, or feeders.
• Preening: Cleaning and grooming their feathers.
• Tiny Side Steps: While perched, they can make slight shuffling movements from side to side, but these are minimal and not comparable to walking.

Hummingbirds also use their feet to scratch themselves, similar to how dogs use their back legs when scratching behind their ears. They have four toes on each foot. Three toes in the front and one in the back for support, similar to most bird species. The one toe in the back of the foot structure is called a hallux and it aids in stability for hummingbirds when perching. This is similar to humans using the thumb when holding objects.

The only time a hummingbird displays extra grip strength in their feet is when they do not make it home in time before they go to sleep. They can be seen hanging upside down from a feeder in a deep sleep called torpor.

Myth #6
Hummingbirds are not very smart because they have tiny brains.

Despite their tiny brains, hummingbirds are incredibly smart with brains that are proportionally large compared to their body size. Their brain makes up about 4.2% of their total body weight, which is the largest proportion among birds.

A hummingbird’s brain weighs less than 5 raisins and has the capacity of being one of the most intelligent of all animals.

Their brains must contain enough fuel to function and consume 20 grams of its own body weight in food every day.

Hummingbirds are extremely confident in their ability to remember every single flower they have visited in a single day, how long it will take for the flower to refill will nectar again, and which flowers hold the most nectar. They visit over 1,000 flowers each day to fulfill their daily intake of nutrition.

Hummingbirds can recognize and tell the difference between each human with whom they come in contact. They will register and see familiar faces with whom they have regular contact. They can determine and identify friends or foe. Once a hummingbird feels comfortable in your presence they will become more like a family pet than an outdoor wild animal.

Evidence of Hummingbird Intelligence:

1. Memory: Hummingbirds have exceptional spatial memory, remembering the locations, timing, and nectar quality of flowers or feeders they visit.
2. Navigation: They are skilled at long-distance migration, traveling thousands of miles and often returning to the same feeding sites year after year.
3. Problem-Solving: Studies have shown hummingbirds can solve complex tasks to access food, demonstrating cognitive flexibility.
4. Territorial Behavior: They strategize when defending their feeding territories, showcasing both aggression and tactical planning.

Hummingbirds are extremely intelligent with highly developed brains and are truly incredible creatures. They should not be dismissed as being dumb due to their tiny stature! They say an elephant never forgets; well a hummingbird’s memory is out of this world!

Read my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food

Myth #7
The honking sound a hummingbird makes while performing a dive display is vocal.

Researchers have performed studies and discovered the honking sound a hummingbird makes during a dive display is not vocal; it is produced by their tail feathers. When the hummingbird dives at high speeds, air rushes through the tail feathers, causing them to vibrate and create the distinct honking, whistling, or buzzing sound.

The air that passes through their tail feathers makes a honking sound and is commonly misunderstood as a vocal sound.

For non-vocal communication, hummingbirds use:

• Aerodynamics: When hummingbirds descend and come to a complete stop at the bottom of their dive, they open and close their tail feathers as a rudder to guide them like a boat.
• Vibration: Certain tail feathers vibrate at specific frequencies, producing the sound.
• Species-Specific: The pitch and tone of the sound vary depending on the species, as the shape and size of their tail feathers differ along with the amount of air that passes through them.

This high physical fitness and flying skills show off male dominance, strength and desirable traits to impress a female. The faster the male dives the more vibrations and sounds he can make through his tail feathers attracting the attention of a female hummingbird.

Read my article:
Why Hummingbirds Chase Each Other: Is it Friend or Foe?

Myth #8
To encourage natural migration, hummingbird feeders should be removed by early fall.

Removing hummingbird feeders to encourage natural migration is a myth. Hummingbird migration is primarily triggered by changes in daylight length, not the availability of food.

Leaving feeders up does not prevent hummingbirds from migrating. They have natural instincts to fly south towards warmer climates for the winter.
Feeders can be up all winter to feed some overwintering, migrating or injured hummingbirds, but removal in mid-winter can be fatal.

The dilemma every hummingbird enthusiast struggles with every year is leaving the hummingbird feeders up all year or taking them down during the winter.
Either way is ok, as long as you are consistent with your decision.

If you decide to take down your feeders, keep feeders clean and filled until at least two weeks after you see your last hummingbird. This ensures food is available for any late migrators.
Providing a reliable nectar source supports their journey and does not interfere with their natural instincts to migrate.

See my article: 
Should I Keep My Hummingbird Feeder Out During the Winter?

Myth #9
Hummingbirds only drink nectar from flowers. They do not eat bugs.

A hummingbirds diet primarily consists of nectar from flowers, which provides them with the energy they need for their high metabolism.

However, they do eat insects and spiders as a significant part of their diet. These bugs supply essential proteins, fats, and nutrients that nectar alone cannot provide for a well-balanced diet.

Hummingbirds need to have the right balance of nectar to protein ratio. They do not live off of one over the other.

They are a voracious consumer of calories and require between 8,000 – 10,0000 calories of food each day to survive compared to the human who consumes 2,500 calories a day.
The nectar is digested and excreted within 15 to 20 min, hence they feed every 15 min.

Read my article:
Hummingbird Diet: From Nectar to Insects

Hummingbirds eat other bugs for protein including:

• Small insects
• Gnats
• Fruit flies
• Small spiders
• Ants
• Aphids
• Leaf-hoppers
• Flies
• Mites
• Mosquitoes

Their favorite protein source to eat are baby spiders. Some experts estimate spiders can make up 70% of their protein and daily food intake. Proteins are essential because it helps to aid and strengthen muscle repair.

Hummingbirds are expert hunters, often catching insects mid-flight or picking them off plants. Their diverse diet helps them thrive in various environments.

Myth #10
Commercially purchased hummingbird nectar with added vitamins is good for your hummingbird.

Commercially purchased hummingbird nectar with added vitamins is not necessary and can sometimes be harmful. A basic homemade hummingbird nectar and access to insects in the environment is the most beneficial.

Read my article:
Forget Commercial Hummingbird Food, Try Making Homemade Nectar

Concerns with
Vitamin-Added Nectar:

• Unnecessary Additives: Hummingbirds evolved to thrive on natural nectar and the proteins from insects.
  Added vitamins may not be beneficial and could even harm their delicate systems if over-supplemented.
• Artificial Dyes and Preservatives: Some commercially purchased hummingbird nectar include food preservatives and red dye #40 along with added vitamins.
  These are not ideal ingredients for hummingbirds to consume and can be harmful to hummingbirds.
• Expense: Commercial products are often more expensive while offering no proven health benefits.

Read my article:
The One Thing You Need to Eliminate From a Hummingbird’s Diet

Hummingbirds can get their basic everyday vitamins and minerals through a well-balanced healthy diet of protein and nectar. The added vitamins in these commercially made solutions are unnecessary.

Sugar water has more beneficial properties or nutritional value than commercially made hummingbird nectar even with added vitamins.

Commercial hummingbird nectar with vitamins added is discussed as being beneficial to hummingbirds to strengthen the egg shell of females. However, I have not found substantial evidence to back this claim. Everything in moderation if you decide to choose this path.

Myth #11
Adding honey to homemade nectar is safe for hummingbirds.

Adding honey to homemade nectar is not safe for hummingbirds because of fermentation risk, bacteria and mold growth and thicker stickier consistency.

Reasons Why Honey
Is Harmful:

• Fermentation Risk: When mixed with water, honey ferments quickly, producing harmful substances that can make hummingbirds sick.
• Bacteria and Mold Growth: Honey promotes the growth of dangerous bacteria and molds, which can cause fungal infections in hummingbirds’ digestive systems.
• Thicker Consistency: Honey is denser than sugar and can clog hummingbirds’ tiny feeding mechanisms.

Experts say hummingbirds can contract a fungal tongue infection called Candidiasis.

This tongue infection is caused by a rapid growth of yeast in the mouth. Patches of white plaque will form in the mouth of the hummingbird.
It can be removed requiring professional skill but unfortunately leaves a spot that is red and bleeding.

This infection can cause loss of appetite, loss of sense of taste and can create an unwanted taste in the hummingbird’s mouth.
Read my article:
Hummingbird Diseases: From Pathogens to Prevention

Do NOT use honey, brown sugar, or artificial sweeteners. When making your homemade hummingbird nectar mix 1 part white granulated sugar to 4 parts water.

Use plain white granulated sugar and water when making homemade hummingbird nectar. This simple recipe provides the energy hummingbirds need while avoiding the risks associated with honey or other additives.

Read my article:
Forget Commercial Hummingbird Food, Try Making Homemade Nectar

Myth #12
Commercially purchased hummingbird nectar using red food dye is fresh and healthy.

Commercially purchased hummingbird nectar with synthetic red food dye is not recommended for hummingbirds. While it can appear fresh and attractive, the additives preserve the shelf life of the product and is not beneficial for the health of the hummingbird and can pose health risks.

Though evidence is still being studied, some research shows other tested animals who consumed red food dye #40 lost weight, had a poorer survival rate and showed a decrease in reproduction. Other concerns include potential liver or kidney damage over time.

Red food dye is used in commercial nectar since hummingbirds are drawn to the color red. However, natural flower nectar is clear in nature and the feeder itself has red parts that are sufficient to attract them. There is no need for added synthetic color. The dye in the nectar serves no beneficial purpose.

While commercialized hummingbird nectar using red food dye is available and convenient to purchase, overtime, the use of red dye #40 will be detrimental to hummingbirds.

Read my article:
The One Thing You Need to Eliminate From a Hummingbird’s Diet

Making your own homemade hummingbird nectar is easy and cost-effective using only sugar and water without the added red food dye. It is good advice to avoid red food coloring whether in homemade or commercial hummingbird nectar.

The best homemade nectar recipe is 1 cup of granulated white cane sugar dissolved in 4 cups of water.

Read my article:
Forget Commercial Hummingbird Food, Try Making Homemade Nectar

Myth #13
Red base hummingbird feeders with yellow flowers attracts hummingbirds.

The common hummingbird feeder we see in the store has a clear top, red base and yellow flowers. Red-base hummingbird feeders with yellow flowers can attract hummingbirds, however it is best to purchase a hummingbird feeder with an all red base and no yellow flowers.

Hummingbirds are highly attracted to the color red because they associate it with flowers that produce nectar. A feeder with a red base or components is enough to naturally attract the hummingbirds attention.

Yellow flowers on feeders can add visual appeal and may attract hummingbirds, however the problem with the color yellow is that it also attract bees, wasps, and ants, which compete with hummingbirds for the nectar and can deter them from feeding.

The actual facts are that bees are attracted to the color yellow. They do not see the color red and instead see it as black. Hummingbirds are attracted to red and not yellow. Having yellow flowers on your hummingbird feeder only attracts unwanted bees on a hot day.

Read my article:
Bees On My Hummingbird Feeder: (9 Tips To Get Rid of Them)

Now that you have accurate information, take this new found knowledge and dominate any hummingbird conversation confidently!

Happy Hummingbird Watching!