How long do hummingbirds live?
A lot longer than we once thought. Very small animals with high metabolisms usually have short life spans, and our early experiences suggested that hummingbirds were no exception. The first captive hummingbirds seldom lived more than a few months to a couple of years, but scientific research into their feeding habits and nutritional needs has enabled some to live up to 14 years in captivity. Banding studies have shown that even wild hummingbirds can survive more than a decade. The oldest known wild hummingbird, a female Broad-tailed banded as an adult in Colorado, was at least 12 years 2 months old when last seen.
