Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a clever and colourful family board game about timing, risk and collecting nectar. Guide your hummingbirds around the garden, claim flowers and try to work out whether the hidden sand timer underneath has run out.

The longer you wait, the more valuable the nectar can be — but wait too long and another player might swoop in and claim the flower first!

Can you time your moves perfectly and collect the most valuable nectar?

How to Play Hummingbirds

At the beginning of the game, the hidden sand timers are started. Each flower in the garden has a timer underneath it, but you can't see how much time is left.

Each player controls two hummingbirds.

On your turn, you have two choices:

Claim a Flower

Move one of your hummingbirds onto an unoccupied flower.

This gives you the opportunity to come back and check its hidden timer on a later turn.

Check for Nectar

Choose a flower occupied by one of your hummingbirds and check the timer underneath it.

If the timer has run out, you've successfully timed it and collect a nectar token matching that flower's colour.

But if the timer is still running, you've checked too soon. Your hummingbird leaves the flower and, if you have any nectar, you must return your lowest-value nectar token.

So every check comes with a risk.

Time Your Moves Wisely

This is the heart of Hummingbirds.

The hidden timers run for different lengths of time, from just 30 seconds all the way up to 10 minutes. The nectar tokens become increasingly valuable as the timers get longer.

That means you have some big decisions to make.

Do you grab the easy, low-value nectar?

Do you wait for a more valuable flower?

Can you remember how long ago a timer was started?

And, perhaps most importantly:

Will another player get there first?

You can't use a phone, watch or external timer to keep track. You have to rely on your judgement and memory.

The Longer You Wait, The Bigger the Reward

Not all nectar is worth the same amount.

The shortest timer gives you 1-point nectar, while the longest timer leads to a 25-point nectar token.

That creates a tempting risk-and-reward system.

A flower worth 1 point might be almost ready.

A much more valuable flower could still have several minutes left.

You need to decide whether the potential reward is worth the wait.

And because other players are competing for the same flowers, waiting isn't always the safest strategy.

Watch Your Opponents

Hummingbirds isn't just about keeping track of your own flowers.

You can also watch what the other players are doing.

Which flowers have they claimed?

How long have their hummingbirds been sitting there?

Are they about to check a valuable flower?

Could you swoop in and claim it yourself?

The garden is constantly changing, and paying attention to the other players can give you valuable information.

Why You'll Love Hummingbirds

• A fun family board game about timing and risk.
• Easy to learn but full of interesting decisions.
• 2–4 players.
• Recommended for ages 8+.
• Around 15 minutes to play.
• Hidden sand timers create suspense throughout the game.
• Six different timer lengths create different levels of risk and reward.
• Collect nectar worth between 1 and 25 points.
• Move two hummingbirds around the garden.
• Decide when to play it safe and when to take a gamble.
• Keep an eye on your opponents and try to beat them to the best flowers.
• No phones or external timers required.
• Great for family game nights.
• Particularly good for players who enjoy push-your-luck and timing games.
• Colourful and tactile components make it appealing to children and adults.
• Quick enough to play several games in one sitting.

Hidden Timers Make Every Move Exciting

The clever thing about Hummingbirds is that you never know exactly how much time is left.

The game contains 13 flower sand timers with six different durations:

This creates a simple but effective risk-and-reward system.

The valuable flowers are tempting, but they take longer to mature.

And if you check before the timer has finished, you lose your lowest-value nectar.

Every flower is a gamble.

A Great Family Game

Hummingbirds is an excellent choice if you're looking for a quick family board game that doesn't require a complicated rules explanation.

The basic idea is easy to understand:

Claim a flower. Wait. Check the timer. Collect nectar.

But underneath that simple system are some surprisingly tricky decisions.

You need to balance:

• Timing.
• Memory.
• Risk.
• Positioning.
• Competition.
• Patience.

That makes Hummingbirds accessible to younger players while still giving adults plenty to think about.

Hummingbirds for 2–4 Players

Hummingbirds supports 2–4 players, making it a great choice for smaller family groups.

With fewer players, you'll have more opportunities to claim the flowers you want.

With four players, the garden becomes much more competitive, with players constantly trying to get their hummingbirds into the best positions.

Either way, the hidden timers ensure that you can never be completely certain what's about to happen.

Who Is Hummingbirds For?

Hummingbirds is a great choice for:

• Families looking for an easy-to-learn board game.
• Children aged 8 and over.
• Adults who enjoy quick games.
• Players who enjoy push-your-luck mechanics.
• Fans of games involving timing and memory.
• Players who enjoy risk-versus-reward decisions.
• Casual board gamers.
• Families looking for a game that plays in around 15 minutes.
• Players who enjoy colourful, tactile games.
• Anyone who likes a little suspense in their board games.

It's particularly good if you're looking for:

A quick family game where timing is everything.

A Game of Timing, Not Speed

Despite the theme, Hummingbirds isn't about frantically moving your birds around the garden.

It's about knowing when to act.

You might have a flower with a valuable timer underneath it, but checking too soon could cost you.

Alternatively, waiting too long gives your opponents the opportunity to claim it.

The best players will learn to judge the passage of time, remember which flowers have been waiting longest and recognise when it's worth taking the risk.

Hummingbirds rewards patience — but not too much patience.

How Does Hummingbirds End?

The game ends when all the nectar tokens of one colour have been claimed.

Players then add up the values of their nectar tokens.

The player with the highest total nectar value wins.

So don't be fooled by having lots of tokens.

One valuable piece of nectar can be worth considerably more than several low-value ones.

What's Included?

The game includes:

• 13 Flower Sand Timers
• 13 Coloured Tubes
• 56 Nectar Tokens
• 8 Hummingbirds — 2 per player
• 5 Die-Cut Garden Base Pieces
• Rules

The official publisher lists Hummingbirds as a 2–4 player game for ages 8+, with games taking approximately 15 minutes.

Game Information

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds is a family board game where players compete to collect nectar by timing their moves around a garden. Flowers hide sand timers, and players must decide when to check them.

How do you play Hummingbirds?

Each player controls two hummingbirds. On your turn, you can claim an unoccupied flower or check a flower occupied by one of your hummingbirds. If its hidden timer has finished, you collect nectar. If it is still running, you lose your lowest-value nectar token if you have one.

How many players can play Hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds is designed for 2–4 players.

What age is Hummingbirds suitable for?

Hummingbirds is recommended for ages 8 and over.

How long does Hummingbirds take to play?

A game takes approximately 15 minutes.

Is Hummingbirds a push-your-luck game?

Yes. Players must decide whether to check a flower now or wait longer. Checking too early can cost you nectar, while waiting can give you the chance to collect more valuable nectar.

How long are the Hummingbirds timers?

The game includes timers lasting 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes and 10 minutes.

How do you win Hummingbirds?

The game ends when all the nectar tokens of one colour have been claimed. Players add up the values of their nectar tokens, and the player with the highest total wins.

Is Hummingbirds good for families?

Yes. Its simple rules, short playing time and 8+ age recommendation make it well suited to family game nights.

Is Hummingbirds a strategy game?

Yes. Although the game includes hidden information and timing uncertainty, players make strategic decisions about which flowers to claim, when to check timers and how much risk to take.

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