Denise Taber, age 13, of Tulsa, Oklahoma for her question:

Do hummingbirds build nests?

As a general rule, the birds are excellent parents and almost all of them build nests to shelter their growing families. Certainly the hummers build nests, but since they are the smallest members of the bird world, their nests are not very noticeable. Actually, the average hummingbird nest is about as big as half an egg shell. As a rule, it is perched between a couple of twigs, rather high above the ground, hidden among the surrounding foliage.

The neat little nest is woven from fine shreds of grass, plant fluff and perhaps a few cobwebs. The outside is disguised with scraps of bark, mosses and lichens. Its colors blend perfectly with the scenery and chances are, you would never notice it. You might not even notice the little brown mother sitting on her two eggs    which are about as big as peas. This egg shell sized nest would belong to one of the larger hummers. The nest of the bee hummingbird is even smaller.