“Hummingbirds visit my feeders every day, year-round,” says Kelso, Washington Birds & Blooms reader Kay Teseniar. “Where do hummingbirds sleep at night and survive the cold?”
Hummingbirds sleep on wind-sheltered twigs. Winter torpor is another possibility. Cold nights cause this strange behavior, but sometimes they become torpid during the day.
A hummingbird was hanging upside-down. Is that how they sleep? wonders Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania resident Sarah Latimer.
Hummingbirds sometimes sleep upside-down, which is unusual. Due of their fast metabolism, these little birds may burn up most of their energy while sleeping.
However, on a smooth perch, they may slip and hang headdown. It looks scary, but the bird normally awakens up and can straighten itself. While sitting atop a feeder, they may appear upside down.