Wondering why you never see a male hummingbird at your feeder? Our birding experts provide the reason why boy birds aren't in your backyard.
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Only Seeing Female Hummingbirds
“I had a large swarm of hummingbirds last summer, but every one was a female—not a single male hummingbird among them. How can that be?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Sharon Rice of Fulton, Missouri.
Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “Often in summer it seems as if we see only female hummingbirds and no males. Part of the reason is that the juvenile hummingbirds—both males and females—look almost identical to the adult females at first, so the young birds raised during the summer will add to the impression.
Also, while the females and youngsters regularly perch and feed low around the garden, adult males spend much of their time perching up high, watching for rivals, so they’re easy to overlook. And in late summer, adult male hummingbirds generally leave to start migrating south before the females or young birds.”
Do Male Hummingbirds Like Different Flowers and Feeders?
“I only have female ruby-throated hummingbirds visiting my sugar-water feeder and the flowers on my deck rail. I never see males. Do they like different flowers and types of feeders than the females?” asks reader Linda Anderson of Berwick, Pennsylvania.
Kenn and Kimberly say, “Males and female hummingbirds generally like the same things, so there may be other factors at work here. It’s possible that the male hummingbirds in your area have territories away from your feeders and flowers so you don’t see them as often. We’ve also seen females defending the territory around the nest, actively chasing off the males and other females that venture too close.
Also, remember that juvenile hummingbirds (both males and females) look like the adult females, so they outnumber the flashy ruby-throated adult males.”
Watch for Behavior Clues to ID
“How do hummingbirds spend their time when they aren’t at a feeder?” asks reader David Worrell of Rockville, Virginia.
Kenn and Kimberly say, “Even in a yard that is well-stocked with sugar-water feeders, hummingbirds will regularly visit any flowers that are available and catch tiny insects to supplement their diet. In the breeding season, the females are extremely busy with building a nest, incubating eggs and feeding their young.
Male hummingbirds don’t take any part in nesting or chick-rearing duties. Instead, they spend most of their spare time chasing away rival males or watching for females so they can resume courtship activities.”
Physical Differences
A few key features set the males and females apart.
- Similar to some raptors, female hummingbirds tend to be slightly larger in size than males.
- Along with their heftier build, females often have a longer bill.
- By the time they leave the nest, juvenile female hummingbirds usually look almost identical to adult females.
See more differences between male vs female hummingbirds.
About the Experts
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman are the official bird experts for Birds & Blooms. They are the creators of the Kaufman Field Guide series and they lead birding trips all over the world.
