Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ruby-throat
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ruby-throat
Archilochus colubris
At a Glance
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America. Hovering in front of a flower to sip nectar, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird beats its wings more than 50 times per second. Despite their small size, impressive migrants may migrate from Canada to Costa Rica. In general, hummingbird feeders are safe, but they should be placed out of reach of cats and windows, avoid red food coloring, and cleaned often.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Hummingbirds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Coasts and Shorelines, Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets, Urban and Suburban Habitats
Region
Eastern Canada, Florida, Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, New England, Plains, Southeast, Texas, Western Canada
Behavior
Flitter, Hovering, Rapid Wingbeats
Population
36.000.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
Nearly all of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird leave North America in the fall, overwintering from Mexico to Costa Rica or Panama. Some may cross the Gulf of Mexico but many migrate around, migrating along Texas coast. In spring, the male Ruby-throated Hummingbird moves north earlier than the female.
Description
Sexes similar; female slightly larger — Length: 2.8-3.5 in (7-9 cm); wingspan: 3-4.3 in (8-11 cm); weight: 0.1-0.2 oz (2-6 g). Both the adult male and female Ruby-throated Hummingbird are metallic green on back. The adult male has a bright iridescent ruby throat which appears black in most lights, bright metallic green back and sides, with a forked black tail. The female has a dull grayish white throat, is golden-green above and whitish below, with white tips on outer tail feathers. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is best identifies by range.
Size
About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Black, Green, Red, Tan, White
Wing Shape
Narrow, Rounded, Short
Tail Shape
Multi-pointed, Notched, Rounded, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Mouse-like, twittering squeaks.
Call Pattern
Flat
Call Type
Buzz, Chirp/Chip, Trill
Habitat
Gardens, wood edges. Summers in a variety of semi-open habitats, including open woods, clearings and edges in forest, gardens, city parks. Winters mostly in rather open or dry tropical scrub, not usually in rain forest. Migrants may stopover in any open habitat with flowers.
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Behavior
Eggs
2. White. Incubation is by the female Ruby-throated Hummingbird only for 12-14 days.
Young
Hatchlings are small, with a dark slate to dark gray or pink skin color. The female Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeds the young. Nest stretches as young grow. Age of young at first flight about 20-22 days. Usually 1-2 broods per year, sometimes 3. The female may begin building a second nest while still feeding young in the first.
Feeding Behavior
At flowers, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird usually feeds while hovering, extending its bill and long tongue deep into the center of the flower. At feeders, may either hover or perch. To catch small insects, may fly out and take them in midair, or hover to pluck them from foliage. Sometimes takes spiders (or trapped insects) from spider webs.
Diet
Mostly nectar and insects. Takes nectar from flowers, and will feed on tiny insects as well. Favors red tubular flowers, such as trumpet vine or cardinal flower. Will also feed on sugar-water mixtures in hummingbird feeders, but avoid red food coloring and clean often.
Nesting
In courtship display, the male Ruby-throated Hummingbird flies back and forth in front of the female in wide U-shaped "pendulum" arc, making a whirring sound on each dive. The male also buzzes back and forth in short passes in front of the perched female. Nest site is in a tree or large shrub, 5-50 feet above the ground, usually 10-20 feet. Placed on horizontal branch or one that slopes down from tree, usually well surrounded by leafy cover. The nest, built by the female Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a compact cup of grasses, plant fibers, spider webs, lined with plant down. The outside is camouflaged with lichens and dead leaves.
Conservation
Conservation Status
Ruby-throated Hummingbird populations have steadily increased since 1966; it is common and widespread and not of conservation concern.
Climate Threats Facing the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ruby-throat
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.
