Hummingbird eating bugs. (1 Viewer)

[Maljunulo]

This afternoon, I got to see a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris eating small gnat-sized, flying insects. The bird approached, and landed briefly on a dead limb, then dropped down and hovered under the branch, while grabbing the insects.

My crackpot theory is that the bird used the wind from its wings to frighten the insects into flight, then picked them off, one at a time.

It was quite a sight,

 

[KC Foggin]

Yup, they love insects as much as they love nectar. I can remember when I first started feeding the birds... well, a long time ago, I watched what I thought was a hummer eating suet. Turns out, it was grabbing the insects on the suet

 

[Nutcracker]

They eat them for the protein - nectar is only sugar, so insects are essential for their general nutrition.

 

[Larryq22]

Hummers mainly want insects. They eat nectar (sugar) for energy.