There are a few different species of birds that build nests that hang or dangle from trees and other structures. Some of the most common birds that make hanging nests include orioles, weaverbirds, and penduline tits. The unique nest designs help protect eggs and chicks from predators and bad weather. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at which birds construct hanging nests, where they build them, what materials they use, and how the nests benefit the birds.
Orioles
Orioles are a family of colorful songbirds found mostly in the Americas. There are a number of different oriole species, but some of the most widespread and notable are the northern oriole, Baltimore oriole, orchard oriole, hooded oriole, and Scott’s oriole. Male orioles are bright orange or yellow with black wings and tails, while females tend to be more yellowish-green.
Orioles are known for weaving intricate, hanging nests out of plant fibers, hair, string, and other materials. The nests are shaped like small pouches with a narrow opening at the top. Orioles often attach their nests to the branches of trees, allowing them to sway in the breeze. This gives added protection from predators like snakes, raccoons, and rats trying to raid the eggs. The flexible, hanging design also helps stabilize the nest during storms and strong winds.
Oriole nests are constructed using the birds’ strong beaks and feet. The male and female oriole work together to weave plant fibers into a sturdy base. Then they loop long pieces of string, hair, or other materials through the base to form the hanging support lines. The birds use their beaks like sewing needles to tightly stitch the materials together. Orioles also line the inside of the nest with soft plant down and feathers to cushion the eggs.
Some of the preferred trees for orioles to build nests in include maples, elms, cottonwoods, willows, and fruit trees. They tend to favor trees located along the edge of open woodlands. Backyard fruit trees make convenient and popular nesting sites. Orioles often reuse and renovate their nests from previous years too.
Weaverbirds
Weaverbirds are small passerine birds found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. There are several different genera and species of weaverbirds, with some of the most widespread being village weavers, masked weavers, and buffalo weavers. The males are usually brightly colored yellow, red, or black, while females are more subdued in browns and grays.
As their name suggests, weaverbirds are master nest builders that weave intricate homes out of plant fibers. The nests have a tubular or sphere shape with a side entrance hole. Most species build nests that hang suspended from tree branches, reeds, roofs, or telephone poles. Some weaverbird nests even have separate chambers inside.
Weaverbirds use strips of leaves, grasses, and other flexible vegetation to tightly wind and stitch together a cohesive nest. The birds use their beaks like a sewing needle to weave the materials together. Some species also incorporate pieces of trash like plastic and paper into their nests. The nest entrance is built facing downward, providing extra security against predators.
Colonial weaverbirds build their nests close together in small “villages”, often overhanging bodies of water. The hanging position helps protect the colony against snakes and monkeys. The villages can include hundreds of these hanging woven nests. Some weaverbirds also build elaborate covered nests with roofs.
The nests play an important role in mating rituals. Male weaverbirds build nests to attract potential mates. Females closely examine the nests and only mate with males that build the best quality nests. The male continues to add improvements to a nest if a female rejects it.
Penduline Tits
Penduline tits are small songbirds closely related to chickadees and titmice. There are 10 species found mainly in Europe and Asia. They get their name from their elaborately woven hanging nests.
Penduline tits are skilled builders that construct nests out of plant material and spider silk. The nest has a large, round chamber with an entrance hole near the top. The birds carefully weave together soft inner fibers from plants like willows and poplars. Then they stitch an outer shell from sturdy leaves and seed fibers. The pendulous nests typically hang from trees branches over water.
The location of the nest entrance provides safety from predators. And the fluids inside the hanging nest material expand in the rain, helping seal up holes and prevent leaks. The smooth exterior surface also deters snakes and other climbing predators. The nest’s suspended position over water gives added protection, since many predators have difficulty reaching it.
Male penduline tits often build multiple nests as part of their mating strategy. Females select a nest they like best, and complete the inner lining before starting to lay eggs. The male continues building more nests to attract additional mates. But only the female incubates the eggs and cares for the hatchlings. She often lines the nest with feathers, hair, and other soft materials to cushion and insulate the eggs.
Advantages of Hanging Nests
Birds like orioles, weaverbirds, and penduline tits all build specialized hanging nest structures for some important reasons:
Safety from predators
The main advantage of an hanging nest is keeping eggs and chicks safe from predators. Suspending the nest from a tree branch or other structure helps deter snakes, squirrels, monkeys, and other climbing predators. The smooth, tightly woven exterior also prevents entry from predators that can’t easily get a grip. And nests built over water provide an extra barrier from predators that don’t swim well.
Protection from weather
Hanging nests are often remarkably resilient against bad weather. The flexible anchoring and woven fibers allow the nest to sway and adjust to strong winds so it doesn’t blow away. The smooth exterior also causes rain droplets to roll off instead of soaking in, while the Nest materials expand when wet to tighten gaps. Nest interiors tend to have thick, insulating linings to regulate temperature and humidity.
Display for mating
In birds like weaverbirds, the hanging nest serves as an important display construction to attract mates. The males that are able to build the most complex and durable nests tend to win mates who then use the nests. So hanging nest building has evolved not just for reproduction purposes, but also courtship rituals.
Other Birds with Hanging Nests
While orioles, weaverbirds, and penduline tits are some of the most skilled builders of elaborate hanging nests, they aren’t the only birds that make suspended nests. Here are a few others:
Swifts
Swifts like the common swift build simple shelf or cup-shaped nests plastered to vertical surfaces on cliffs, inside trees, under overhangs, and even on buildings. They use saliva and other sticky materials to glue together feathers, twigs, and other debris to make a sturdy nest base.
Cliff swallows
Cliff swallows construct gourd or jug-shaped hanging nests out of mud attached to cliffs or manmade structures. The nest entrance is a small tunnel facing downward. The mud shell hardens and provides insulation.
Hang-nest parakeets
Some species of parakeets like the monk parakeet build sizable hanging stick nests in trees. The parakeets gather twigs with their beaks and use them to form a secure platform nest.
Hummingbirds
Many hummingbirds build tiny compact cups out of plant down, spider webs, lichen, and moss. They often situate their nests hanging from low branches or vines, attached with sticky spider silk.
Conclusion
Hanging nests are a clever strategy used by some resourceful bird species to safely incubate eggs and raise young. Orioles, weaverbirds, and penduline tits are just a few examples of master nest architects that carefully weave plant fibers into durable, hanging structures. The hanging position helps protect the nests from predators and bad weather. It also serves as an attractive display for courtship. Next time you see a woven pouch suspended from a tree, take a closer look – it was likely built by one of these amazing hanging nest specialists.