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October 23, 2026 Fact of the Day Birds Hummingbirds use spiderwebs to build their nests. By Kristina Wright A hummingbird’s nest may look like a walnut-sized cup stuck to a branch, but they’re artfully engineered with spiderwebs to hold them together. The female hummingbird gathers strands of spider silk and uses them to bind plant fibers, moss, lichen, and other soft materials into a tiny cup. Depending on the species, she may build it on a tree branch, shrub, vine, or even a sheltered human-made structure. And the spider silk does more than keep the nest together: It’s strong and elastic, allowing the nest to stretch and expand as the chicks grow, which is especially useful considering the finished nest may initially be only 1 or 2 inches in diameter. The female often lines the inside with soft plant fibers and down, creating a snug space for her eggs and chicks. Are hummingbirds the smallest birds in the world? Fact Reveal Hummingbirds intermittently enter a state of deep “sleep” called ___ to conserve energy. See the Answer Keep Exploring Birds How Big Can a Bald Eagle Nest Get? Birds 5 Birds With Clever Survival Tricks Birds How Fast Do Hummingbirds Fly? Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up Advertise Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use 325 North LaSalle Street, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60654 If you'd like to unsubscribe from all Animal Facts emails, click here.