Last updated on May 8th, 2022 at 12:16 am
Hummingbirds are distinctly fascinating to watch, and they have numerous quirky behaviors to witness. One of these behaviors is chirping while eating. Why do they do this?
Hummingbirds chirp when they eat because they enjoy their food and want to express satisfaction. Additionally, young hummingbirds chirp when eating to communicate with their mother, and male hummingbirds sometimes chirp to ward off competition.
This Is Why Hummingbirds Chirp When They Eat
Most often, when a hummingbird chirps while eating, it’s simply an expression of delight. They enjoy eating and are happy to share with others.
Young hummingbirds that chirp during feeding sessions do so to demand food and attention from their mothers.
This kind of chirp is more intrusive, and it can sound like an older bird defending a food source.
Sometimes, a male hummingbird will chirp aggressively near a food source to defend the territory from others.
What Hummingbird Sounds Mean
Hummingbirds have many different sounds for different occasions. The following are the most common reasons for a hummingbird to make noise:
- Defending territory
- Feeding
- Warning others of potential threats
- Communicating with parents or offspring
- Attracting mates
Hummingbirds also make distinctive sounds with their wings while flying, which is sometimes used to communicate.
What Does a Hummingbird Sound Like?
Each kind of hummingbird has a distinct chirping style with varying tones and pitches.
Since there are over 300 kinds of hummingbirds alive today, it’s hard to generalize about what they all sound like.
However, the following can be considered the eight most common hummingbirds. Let’s take a closer look at what they sound like.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated hummingbird has a chattering call that sounds something like “chee-dit, chee-dit.”
Usually, you can hear this sound when they’re interacting with each other, but you may also hear a version of this sound while they’re eating as well.
See the following example of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird’s sound:
The Cornell Lab: All About Birds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Sounds
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbirds, which are either bright orange or brown depending on sex, are very aggressive when it comes to protecting their food and territory.
Their call sounds like “chu-chu-chu” and comes across as more nasal than the Ruby-throated Hummingbird’s call.
Listen to the sound of a Rufous Hummingbird here:
Allen’s Hummingbird
The male Allen’s Hummingbird is orange, green, and yellow, and even the female has a spot of orange and yellow on its throat.
They are similar to the Rufous Hummingbird but live in a smaller range, covering parts of Arizona, California, and Mexico.
When feeding, these hummingbirds will make a sharp ticking sound.
See the following example of an Allen Hummingbird’s call:
Anna’s Hummingbird
The male Anna’s Hummingbird has a bright pink and purple, shiny head, and the female is speckled brown and white.
It lives along the westernmost part of the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico and has a distinctively long song, lasting more than 10 seconds.
The song consists of a series of buzzes and ends in a whistle.
See this video of an Anna’s Hummingbird calling:
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbirds have very high-pitched voices, usually in ticks and chips.
You can also hear them due to the bee-like hum that the flapping of their wings makes.
These hummingbirds live in the western half of the United States and Mexico and head south for winter.
Note the distinct sounds in this clip of a Black-chinned Hummingbird:
Calliope Hummingbird
Male Calliope Hummingbirds have bright, violet-colored throats that make them easy to spot and identify at a feeder.
They can also be identified by their distinctive and high-pitched “zing” sound.
The sound starts with a high note, then descends quickly into a lower note. A series of high-pitched chirps follow this sequence.
See the following clip of a Calliope Hummingbird singing:
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
The male Broad-tailed Hummingbird has a deep magenta throat, not to be confused with the shiny purple throat of the Calliope Hummingbird.
They live in meadows and open woodlands and make the same chattering noises, whether male or female.
Their song sounds like a series of clicks and whistles.
Listen to this example of a Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s sound:
Costa’s Hummingbird
The Costa’s Hummingbird lives in desert regions, making a home in chaparral, sage scrub, and desert scrub.
When it’s wintertime, they’ll make a home in the deciduous forests of Mexico. Its sound is a kind of whistle, starting low, then rising and falling again.
A series of fast-paced chirps follow this.
Listen to the following example of a Costa’s Hummingbird call:
How To Spot a Hummingbird Eating
Hummingbirds eat insects and nectar, including nectar directly from flowers and from feeders.
They’re attracted to gardens with thriving native plant populations and brightly-colored nectar feeders, especially red ones like this Birdream Hummingbird Feeder Glass from Birdream on Amazon.com.
This feeder is appealing to hummingbirds and humans alike.
Set up a motion-activated camera like this Vmotal Trail Camera from Amazon.com if you want a sure way to see hummingbirds eating.
The Vmotal camera has a sensor that activates when something moves in front of it, ideal for capturing footage of hummingbirds eating.
By capturing and seeing this footage, you’ll get a sense of when and where to look to find them.
How To Hear a Hummingbird Singing
The first step toward hearing a hummingbird singing is to attract them to your yard, park, or another open natural area.
Once you’ve done that, it’s time to learn when and where they spend their time.
By spending time near their natural haunts, you’re more likely to catch them in the act of singing.
Additionally, you can inspire a hummingbird to sing by chirping at it.
They are open to communication with humans and will also chirp if they’re relying on a nectar feeder that’s suddenly gone empty.