Hummingbirds are occasionally kept in captivity including in zoological settings, with extreme metabolic demands making their welfare particularly challenging to maintain.
Hummingbird welfare in any captive setting is extremely challenging due to their extraordinary metabolic demands. Even brief periods without adequate nutrition cause rapid deterioration. Injured or orphaned hummingbirds require immediate specialist intervention. Keeping hummingbirds as pets is not feasible or appropriate and is illegal for native species in North America. Zoological facilities require considerable expertise and resources to maintain hummingbirds humanely.