According to birders Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman, “These tiny creatures don't live long. Most wild hummingbirds live to be 7 or 8 years old, according to banding studies.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds live 9 years. One banded female broad-tailed hummingbird in Colorado lived to 12.
A good zoo may extend these birds' lives. Two black-chinned hummingbirds at Tucson's Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum lived to 13 or 14.
We know little about Costa's hummingbird. A guy with a developing gorget is less than a year old.
They're easily devoured, especially little birds, he explains. That’s an issue. The maximum lifespan for hummingbirds, sparrows, and chickadees is about ten years.
Most hummingbirds breed at 1 year old. Young hummingbirds must constantly forage for nectar after leaving the nest.
They need more food more often than typical birds, he says. “That could be dangerous for fast birds. Lack of food is perhaps their biggest killer.
Kevin describes that sharp-shinned hawks, Mexican jays, spiders, and praying mantises can kill hummingbirds if caught.
He says that outside cats are one of the biggest threats to hummingbirds' longevity, and they can kill them quickly.