"Hummingbirds and Their Pollinator Cohorts in Western Washington"

Rufous Hummingbird - Photo: Mick Thompson

“Hummingbirds and Their Pollinator Cohorts in Western Washington”

By Melonie Ramsey

 
 

In the forests, meadows, and backyards of western Washington, the blur of iridescent wings and a high-pitched hum often signals the presence of one of nature’s most important workers: the hummingbird. These small, vibrant birds are more than just a delight to the eye—they are vital pollinators that help sustain ecosystems and human agriculture alike. But hummingbirds do not work alone. They are part of a diverse team of pollinators that includes bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, birds, and even small mammals such as bats.

Together, these pollinators form the invisible backbone of the food webs throughout the region.

__________________________________________________________________

Pollinators and the Food Webs

Food webs are comprised of plants, pollinators (insects, birds, bats), lizards, toads, frogs, and mammals, from rodents up through bears. Each is reliant on the other for their survival. Doug Tallamy [1], a professor of entomology, emphasizes the importance of native plants in supporting diverse and robust food webs, where insects function as a crucial link between plants and higher levels on the food chain. Keystone species are those that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance. Keystone plants are critical because they provide many other species with food and habitat.

According to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (U.S. Department of Agriculture) website, scientists estimate that about 75% of the world’s flowering plants and about 35% of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce.

Baby Anna’s Hummingbirds Photo by Gary Bullock

Hummingbirds are the only significant avian pollinators in Washington State. Hummingbirds are especially adept at reaching tubular flowers, often pollinating species that other pollinators cannot access. Washington State hosts four hummingbird species: Anna's, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned. Anna’s call Western Washington home year-round, while the other species are migratory. Besides pollination, hummingbirds also help control insect populations by consuming small insects and spiders, contributing to the broader food web. They rely on suitable habitats along their migratory routes as well as their breeding and wintering areas.

Did you know that hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards
and upside down?

Other nectar-feeding birds commonly found in Washington include orioles, Northern Flickers, catbirds, and warblers. These birds have been observed visiting hummingbird feeders and may consume nectar from flowers and/or tree sap as a treat.

Insect pollinators visit flowers to feed off pollen. Pollen provides them with proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. These pollinators include bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, and other insects. There are over six hundred native bee species in western Washington. They are important pollinators of native plants and crops.

There are at least seven species of bats that call western Washington home. Bats depend upon native plants for roosting sites and insects that they feed on.

Table I provides a snapshot of the key pollinators, pollination methods, and native species in Western Washington State.

As you may have noticed, insects are the common thread amongst all pollinators. Insects pollinate plants, but they also provide food for other pollinators such as birds and bats.

Pollinators also help maintain healthy ecosystems. Their work supports plant diversity, which in turn sustains insects, birds, and mammals across the food chain.

The Decline of Pollinators: Threats They Face

Both resident and migratory pollinators encounter various challenges, many of which are influenced by human activity:

  • Habitat loss and fragmentation: Urban sprawl, logging, and intensive agriculture reduce the availability of native plants and safe nesting sites.

  • Pesticides and herbicides: Chemicals like neonicotinoids harm bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds, either directly or by poisoning their food sources. Mosquito foggers kill more than just mosquitos. There is no such thing as an organic mosquito fogger that kills only mosquitoes. The insecticides used are often broad-spectrum, meaning they can kill all insects, including pollinators. They can also indirectly harm other creatures that feed on the pollinators exposed to these chemicals. According to Dr. Tallamy, no mosquitoes mean: No fireflies, ladybugs, butterflies, pollinators, hummingbirds, songbirds, and lots of others (Tallamy, personal communication, June 18, 2025).

  • Climate change: Altered bloom times, rising temperatures, and unpredictable weather patterns can separate pollinators from the plants they depend on.

  • Invasive species and diseases: Non-native plants can outcompete native flora, and introduced diseases like fungal infections can devastate bee populations.

  • Window collisions and cat predation: Hummingbirds are particularly vulnerable to reflective glass and domestic cats. Consider utilization of visual barriers for windows such as decals, tape, window film, netting, or Acopian BirdSavers. Consider keeping cats indoors and confined in “catios” when outdoors.

How You Can Help: Steps for Individuals and Communities

The good news is that we can all play a role in supporting pollinators—right from our own yards and neighborhoods.

1. Plant Keystone Native Plant species and Pollinator-Friendly Gardens

Keystone plant species are native plants that play an essential role in supporting the food web (interconnected food chains) and maintaining the health of the ecosystem. These plants provide essential resources—such as food and habitat—to a wide variety of wildlife, especially insects like caterpillars, which are vital food sources for birds and other animals [3]. The absence of keystone plants would endanger numerous wildlife species and severely threaten local biodiversity.

Dr. Doug Tallamy and his research team have identified that a small percentage (14%) of native plant species—known as keystone species—are responsible for hosting the vast majority (90%) of caterpillar species, which are crucial for food webs that sustain insect populations, birds, and other wildlife.

Choose a variety of native plants that bloom from early spring to late fall. Native plants are adapted to local conditions and better support native pollinators. Once established, native plants require little maintenance. Include tubular flowers like honeysuckle and penstemon for hummingbirds. Strive for an eventual 70% of your habitat to be comprised of native plants. The National Wildlife Federation website [2] identifies keystone plants by ecoregion.

2. Avoid Pesticides

Adopt organic gardening practices and remove pests (e.g., aphids, spider mites, slugs) by hand or with natural deterrents (such as Lady Bugs). Choose plants (e.g., natives) that do not require chemical maintenance. Keep in mind that there are no native Washington insects considered invasive species. The invasive species in Washington all originate from other parts of the world. Think Japanese beetle and Asian longhorned beetle. Every native insect has its place in food webs. Utilize companion planting (such as nasturtiums, marigolds, herbs and alliums such as garlic and chives) to help repel unwanted insects from your vegetable and fruit trees without harming them or their environment.

3. Create Habitat

Leave a patch of untidy garden with bare ground for ground-nesting bees. Provide water sources such as shallow birdbaths with stones for perching. Maintain dead trees or branches (snags) for cavity nesters when safe to do so. Create a brush pile (call it a “habitat” pile if neighbors complain) as a source of shelter and food for pollinators.

4. Support Migration

Many hummingbirds, such as the Rufous Hummingbird, migrate thousands of miles. Planting stopover food sources and avoiding springtime pesticide use helps them on their journey. The same holds true for other pollinators. For example, plant milkweed to attract Monarch Butterflies that sometimes visit from eastern Washington State.

5. Advocate and Educate

Join or support local conservation groups, community gardens, or native plant societies. Advocate for pollinator-friendly landscaping in neighborhoods, schools, parks, churches, businesses, and city planning, especially when creating new housing developments. Encourage Homeowner Associations to adopt sustainable landscape maintenance practices that support water conservation, organic mulching and fertilization, reduced use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, and native landscaping to support pollinators and food webs. Farmers can restore native habitats by replacing road verges with native wildflowers and prairie plants. Additionally, they can plant prairie strips (rows of native plants) amongst their field crops to increase pollination rates and to connect individual native habitats into corridors.

Small Actions, Big Impact

The dazzling dart of a hummingbird at a flower is not just a summer delight—it is a reminder of a system much larger than itself. By nurturing pollinators in our communities, we are investing in our environment, our food security, and our future.

Whether you have a window box or a forested acre, you can make a difference. Together, we can ensure the Pacific Northwest remains a haven for hummingbirds and their invaluable pollinator cohorts for generations to come.

__________________________________________________________________

Would you like to learn more and get involved? Check out resources including: