The smallest eggs in the world belong to hummingbirds. These nitty-gritty eggs are about the size of a Tic Tac and weigh less than a gram. The exterior of a hummingbird egg is smooth and glossy with a white or pale blue color.
You can usually see small brown spots on the egg, which are where the blood vessels connect to the shell. If you’re lucky enough to spot a hummingbird nest, you may be wondering what the eggs look like.
Hummingbird eggs are very small, usually no bigger than a jellybean. They are white or pale blue in color and have smooth surfaces.
The female hummingbird will lay two eggs at a time, and incubate them for about two weeks before they hatch. After hatching, it will take the young birds another three to four weeks to fledge (grow their feathers and learn to fly).
So if you see a tiny nest with two little eggs in it, be sure to watch from a distance so as not to disturb the parents or the fragile babies.
What Color are Hummingbird’s Eggs?
The eggs of hummingbirds are usually white, but they can also be pale blue or green. The color is not due to pigmentation, but rather the way light reflects off of the egg’s surface.
The eggs are often speckled with brown or red, which helps camouflage them from predators.
How Big is a Hummingbirds Egg?
A hummingbird’s egg is about the size of a jellybean, and usually only weighs about 0.14 grams.
The smallest hummingbird species, the bee hummingbird, has an average egg size of just 2.6 mm (about 1/10th of an inch)!
What Time of Year Do Hummingbirds Lay Eggs?
Most hummingbird species lay their eggs in the spring, typically between April and May. However, some species may lay their eggs as early as February or March, while others may not lay their eggs until June or July.
The timing of when a hummingbird lays its eggs usually depends on the climate and conditions where the bird lives.
For example, hummingbirds in tropical regions are more likely to lay their eggs earlier in the year than those in temperate or arctic regions.
How Long Does a Hummingbird Egg Take to Hatch?
Female hummingbirds lay their eggs singly or in twos. The average incubation period for a hummingbird egg is 12 to 14 days, but can range from 11 to 16 days depending on the species.
After hatching, it takes another 10 to 12 days for the chicks to fledge (grow their feathers and be able to fly).
Allen’s Hummingbird Babies from Hatching to Fledging the Nest
Hummingbird Egg Weight
The average hummingbird egg weighs about 3 grams, which is about 1/10 of an ounce. This is incredibly tiny, considering that the adult hummingbird only weighs about 2-3 ounces!
The eggs are so small because the hummingbird has a very high metabolism and needs to eat constantly to maintain its energy levels.
When they’re not eating, they’re either flying or perching, and both activities use up a lot of energy.
Conclusion
The eggs of a hummingbird are small and white, about the size of a jellybean. They are usually laid in pairs, although sometimes there may be three or four.
The female hummingbird incubates the eggs for about two weeks before they hatch.
