- These are just two of the most frequently asked questions about these captivating creatures. The tiny creatures are surprisingly hardy, with average lifespans overall of 3-5 years in the wild. Wiki User April 20, 2011 2:10PM. A hummingbird’s life span and where it resides can vary depending on several factors, including their specific species. Hummingbird Lifespan. Other banded hummingbirds have been recorded as living up to 10 years. For most North American species (the kind most often studied), a hummingbird’s lifespan is … It's a general rule of nature that the smaller the organism, the shorter its life span. A female hummingbird caring for her young is a busy bird -- particularly if she has two broods during the summer season. Viper1. Hummingbirds are fascinating in so many ways — including their relatively long lifespan for such a small creature with the fast metabolism they have. How long do hummingbirds live? Most hummingbirds die their first year, but when they’ve survived a full annual cycle, their life expectancy goes up dramatically. Depending on the species, she may spend less than a minute or up to three hours at a time sitting on her eggs, taking breaks of less than a minute to half an hour. And how do they die? Baby hummingbirds are very vulnerable. A hummingbird begins his life as an egg the size of a small pea, in a nest no larger than a cup. There are a few reasons why hummingbirds that don’t do well in cold weather are seen in winter, such as: However, the hummingbirds that survive can actually live up to a decade or longer. The oldest known hummingbird was a Broad-Tailed Hummingbird that was captured and tagged at two different times in the span of 12 years. It seems that these birds are connected to life by subtle threads and only the future of these beautiful creatures depends on man. The record age of a banded ruby-throated hummingbird is 6 years, 11 months. The record age of a banded rufous hummingbird is 8 years 1 month. Here are some facts regarding Hummingbird Lifespan & Life Cycle that will be of interest to hummingbird enthusiasts. Life expectancy of hummingbirds according to the species. Torpor is not limited to hummingbirds; it has also been observed in swallows, swifts and poorwills. It doesn't take long for them to leave the nest. The average life span of a hummingbird is 3 years. If a hummingbird survives his first year, he can live to about age 5. Generally, incubation is between 14 and 17 days, but that can be affected by weather and the … Hummingbird lifespans for North America are generally included within that 3-5 year average, but some breeds have been observed to live to 9 and even more than 12 years old. How long do hummingbirds live and where? Just how long hummingbirds live is a question many bird watchers ask. Usually, we would mention the different life expectancy of the many hummingbirds species there are, but the thing is, they all share a similar lifespan, meaning they are all expected to live from 3 to 5 (6, if they are lucky) years in … How long do hummingbirds live? But how do these birds live and for how long? The bee hummingbird is the smallest hummingbird species in the world and measures 2.25 inches long. 1. While in torpor mode, there is a significant drop in the hummingbird’s metabolic and heart rates, which give the tiny bird the ability to live for long periods of time without eating much food. Related Questions. The average ruby-throated hummingbird weighs 3 grams. In comparison, a nickel weighs 4.5 grams. Asked in Caterpillars, Hummingbirds How long … Some hummingbirds, however, seem to defy … When a hummingbird lays her eggs, she usually lays two oblong eggs, around 1/2 inch long and 1/3 inch wide, though some species may be a bit larger or smaller. The little bird's life span can be remarkably short, at less than a year for many. These tiny birds start life very vulnerable, so Mom is very busy ensuring they eat and stay warm. Hummingbirds amaze with their inner power, vitality and at the same time some special fragility. How long do hummingbirds live? The oldest hummingbird ever to be recorded was a female broad-tailed hummingbird that was banded just after its first year of life and then captured eleven years later, making her over twelve years old! These birds are smaller than a penny when they hatch and must remain in the nest for the first three weeks of their lives.