Introduction
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, is a small migratory hummingbird of eastern North America. It is the only hummingbird that regularly breeds across much of the region east of the Great Plains. Its rapid, hovering flight, iridescent green plumage and the male’s bright red throat make it one of the most recognisable birds of gardens, woodland edges and meadows.
Physical Description
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds measure approximately 7–9 cm in length, with a wingspan of about 8–11 cm. Adults usually weigh around 3–5 g, although body mass varies with sex, season and migration preparation.
Both sexes have metallic green upperparts, pale underparts and a long, slender bill. Adult males have a brilliant iridescent red gorget, or throat patch, which can appear dark or almost black when viewed in poor light. Females have a pale throat, a more rounded tail and white tips on some outer tail feathers.
Immature males resemble females but gradually develop red throat feathers during their first year. The wings are relatively short, and the tail is slightly forked in males. Like other hummingbirds, this species can hover and fly backwards, although its very short legs are poorly suited to walking.
Range and Habitat
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird breeds throughout much of the eastern United States and southern Canada, with its breeding range extending westwards across parts of the Great Plains. It uses deciduous and mixed woodland, forest edges, orchards, overgrown fields, gardens, parks and other habitats with suitable flowering plants.
It is a full migrant. Most birds spend the non-breeding season in Mexico and Central America, including areas from southern Mexico to Panama. Some individuals also winter in southern Florida and along the Gulf Coast. During migration, some birds cross the Gulf of Mexico in a long nonstop flight, while others travel around the coast.
The species generally occurs from lowlands to moderate elevations. Its distribution is closely linked to flowering plants, insect availability, shelter and the seasonal timing of migration.
Where to See This Species
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina, United States
The park’s official bird checklist records Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as summer residents and fall migrants. Look for them around flowering woodland edges, open areas, gardens and lower-elevation habitats during the warmer months.
Nearby accommodation: Gatlinburg, Townsend and Cherokee provide hotels, lodges, cabins, campsites and other accommodation suitable for visits to the park.
Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada
Point Pelee is a prominent migration site at the southern tip of mainland Canada. Its woodland edges, thickets, gardens and other sheltered habitats provide suitable stopover conditions for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds during migration, particularly in spring and late summer.
Nearby accommodation: Leamington is the main gateway community, with hotels, guest houses, cottages, campsites and self-catering accommodation in the surrounding area.
Lake St. Clair Metropark, Michigan, United States
The park’s freshwater marsh, meadow and woodland habitats support migrating birds, and the local nature centre regularly highlights hummingbird migration. Late summer and early autumn are useful times to search flowering areas and sheltered vegetation for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
Nearby accommodation: The communities around Lake St. Clair and the wider Detroit metropolitan area offer hotels, motels, guest accommodation and self-catering options.
Behaviour and Diet
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are active during the day and are usually seen alone. They can be highly territorial, with individuals chasing rivals away from flowers, feeders and other food sources. Males often defend feeding territories during the breeding season.
Nectar from tubular flowers provides much of their energy. They also take small insects and spiders, especially during the breeding season when protein is important for developing young. Insects may be caught in flight or taken from vegetation. Hummingbirds can also use tree sap, particularly where sapsuckers have opened feeding wells.
Males arrive on the breeding grounds before females and perform aerial displays during courtship. There is no lasting pair bond. The female builds the nest, incubates the eggs and raises the young without help from the male.
The nest is a tiny cup made from plant fibres, down and other soft materials, bound together with spider silk and often decorated with lichens. It is usually placed on a slender branch of a tree or shrub. A typical clutch contains two white eggs. Incubation lasts about 11–16 days, and the young usually leave the nest after roughly two to three weeks.
Identification Tips
- Look for a very small bird with metallic green upperparts, pale underparts and a slender bill.
- An adult male shows a vivid red throat in good light, although the gorget may look dark from some angles.
- Females and immature males lack the adult male’s red throat and have a paler, more subdued appearance.
- The species often hovers directly in front of flowers or feeders, then darts away with rapid wingbeats.
- In eastern North America, the combination of a green back, pale underside, small size and the male’s red gorget is usually distinctive.
- During migration, other hummingbird species may occur outside their usual ranges. Identification should therefore consider bill shape, tail pattern, throat colour, back colour and the precise location and season.
Conservation Status
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The assessment describes the global population as large and increasing, although local abundance can vary between regions and years.
Important pressures include habitat loss, the degradation of flowering resources, collisions with buildings, exposure to pesticides and other hazards associated with migration. Climate change may also alter migration timing, flowering periods and the availability of food along the route.
Conservation measures include protecting woodland edges, gardens, meadows, migration stopover sites and wintering habitat. Planting native nectar-producing flowers and avoiding pesticides can improve local conditions. Feeders should be kept clean and filled with an appropriate sugar solution, with spoiled nectar replaced promptly. Cats should be kept indoors or safely restrained because they can kill visiting hummingbirds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Ruby-throated Hummingbird live?
It breeds across much of eastern North America, including southern Canada and the eastern and central United States. It migrates south to Mexico, Central America and parts of the southern United States for winter.
When do Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate?
Spring migration usually occurs from late winter through spring, depending on latitude and weather. Autumn migration begins from late summer and continues into early autumn, with northern birds generally departing earlier than southern birds.
How can I identify a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
The adult male has metallic green upperparts, pale underparts and a bright iridescent red throat patch. In shaded conditions, the throat may appear dark until it catches the light.
What do Ruby-throated Hummingbirds eat?
They feed mainly on nectar from flowers and also take small insects and spiders. Nectar supplies energy, while animal prey provides protein and other nutrients, particularly during breeding.
Do Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reuse their nests?
A female generally builds a new nest for each breeding attempt. Suitable nesting sites may be used again in later seasons, but the fragile nest itself is not normally reused as a permanent structure.
How can I help Ruby-throated Hummingbirds?
Grow native flowering plants, avoid pesticides where possible, provide clean feeders during migration and breeding periods, reduce window-collision risks and keep cats indoors or under control outdoors.
References
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- National Park Service and Parks Canada
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Related posts
