Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris
Category: bird
Brief Description
A very small migratory bird with iridescent green plumage and a slender bill, known for its ability to hover and fly backwards.
Characteristics
Adults measure about 7-9 cm long with a wingspan of 8-11 cm. Males feature a brilliant iridescent ruby-red throat patch (gorget), a black chin, and a forked tail. Females and juveniles have a white throat, duller green upperparts, and rounded tails with white tips. The bill is long, straight, and needle-like.
Habitat
Deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, orchards, meadows, and suburban gardens rich in flowering plants.
When to Find It
Active during daylight hours from spring through autumn in breeding grounds; migrates south for winter.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Ecological Role
Acts as an important pollinator for numerous native North American wildflowers and flowering trees.
Easily Confused With
Other North American hummingbirds such as the Black-chinned Hummingbird or Rufous Hummingbird. Distinguish by geographic range, throat color flashes, and tail feather shape.
Observation Tips
Look near red or tubular flowers, or set up a sugar-water hummingbird feeder. Sit quietly at a distance of 2 to 3 meters to avoid startling them.
Interesting Facts
A ruby-throated hummingbird's wings can beat about 53 times per second. Their heart rate can reach over 1,200 beats per minute during flight.
User Notes
The bird during the day