From Pine View Farm

Remember Summer 4

Some more pictures from my brother in Virginia’s Northern Neck.

bluebird at bird house

Hummingbird nest

Hummingbird Nest

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4 comments

  1. George Smith

    September 22, 2013 at 11:52 am

    Marvelous! We have many hummingbirds here but I have never seen a nest and put to scale!

     
  2. Brother Bill

    September 22, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    I’m going to have to hedge on the hummingbird nest.  Based on what I found online, that nest may not be a hummingbird nest.  Believe it or not, they may be smaller – about the size of a penny or so.  The construction appears to be different as well.  It makes sense because hummingbirds don’t have the beaks to bring in little twigs, straw, leaves, and other material.  I guess they’d have to use their feet.
    If it’s not hummingbird nest, I have no idea what bird called it home.  It’s too small for a finch and I can’t think of anything smaller than a finch or sparrow.
    Regardless, it is tiny.

     
  3. George Smith

    September 22, 2013 at 5:53 pm

    I looked up some images for hummingbird nests and the size is close but the materials may not be. A lot of the nests look pasted together. Still, whatever it is, a great photo.

     
  4. Brother Bill

    September 22, 2013 at 8:06 pm

    From what I read, hummingbirds make their nests out plant down, cotton fibers, small bits of bark or leaves, feathers, and other “fuzzy” material.  It’s all held together by spider silk they take from webs.  The exterior is usually covered with moss and/or lichen.  They apparently are quite the little engineers.
    Now that I’m certain the little nest I found did not belong to a hummingbird, I really want to know what species of bird built and used it.  Obviously not our normal yard bird – and I’m not talking about Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, or Jeff Beck.