Is This Hummingbird Snoring or In Distress?

Snoring annoys humans, but it’s adorable for tiny animals. This video by @thehummingbirdslover_s  makes it clear that birds — especially the hummingbird variety — prove this true. This snoring snoozefest gives the illusion of a deep sleep, but this Amethyst-throated Sunangel is actually in a state called torpor. It’s not quite hibernation, and this noise might signify distress rather than a good night’s sleep.

Hummingbirds Hibernate, In a Way

Hibernation looks different for many animals, including hummingbirds. They go into a state similar to hibernation called torpor, which helps them conserve energy. During this time, a bird’s metabolism, heart rate, body temperature, and respiratory rate decrease. This slows its body down and helps it survive when food is hard to find. A hummingbird may also enter torpor at night to conserve energy for the following morning. This takes the place of sleep as their bodies temporarily shut down, but they do not enter a REM stage like some animals.

This video shows torpor in action, although the hummingbird in question seems to be snoring away. This behavior is highly unusual, given that torpor is more of a partial sleep than a deep hibernation. Birds are still alert and can wake from the half-slumber, which makes snoring virtually impossible. So, what’s actually happening to this tiny bird?

The Real Reason for This Noise

This video may have gone viral because of its cuteness, but what’s happening is a little more dire. As birds like this one enter torpor, their body temperature dips. The noise you hear in this video is more akin to a whistle than a snore, because this bird is trying to warm its body. According to Audubon, this indicates shivering as an attempt to boost body temperature. When a bird shivers, it can sometimes emit a high-pitched squeaking that sounds like a snore to the untrained ear.

The sound might indicate some distress while this bird comes out of hibernation mode. Torpor lasts all night, and this bird’s natural circadian rhythm kicks in by the morning. This lets the bird know that it can come out of reduced-energy mode. As it does, its bodies warm up again and bring it back to life. When their heart rate picks up, their metabolism jumps from a crawl—luckily for this little guy, he was able to snap out of torpor quickly.