Quick Answers
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in Eastern North America. They are known for their iridescent throats that shine bright red in the sunlight. Ruby-throated hummingbirds beat their wings up to 70 times per second and can fly backwards and upside down. They have excellent memories and can remember every flower they visit. Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate over 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico each spring and fall. They weigh less than a nickel but eat up to half their weight in nectar every day!
The ruby-throated hummingbird is one of the most remarkable and fascinating birds found across North America. With its glittering red throat and incredible flying abilities, this tiny creature captivates bird watchers and nature lovers alike. The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in Eastern North America and migrates huge distances each year across the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s take a closer look at this aerial acrobat and learn what makes the ruby-throated hummingbird so special.
Identification
The ruby-throated hummingbird gets its name from the iridescent red throat patch found on the adult male. This bright red gorget reflects the sunlight and really stands out when the males are flying. Females lack the red throat patch and are more dull green on the back and white underneath.
| Physical Features | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 2.8-3.5 in long | 2.8-3.5 in long |
| Wingspan | 3.1-4.3 in | 3.1-4.3 in |
| Weight | 2-6 g | 2-6 g |
| Color | Emerald green above, white below with ruby red throat | Dull green above, white below with white throat |
| Beak | Long, needle-like | Long, needle-like |
The ruby-throated hummingbird is a very small bird, measuring only 2.8-3.5 inches long with a wingspan of 3.1-4.3 inches. They weigh just 2-6 grams, averaging about the same weight as a nickel! Both males and females share the same petite stature. The long, needle-like beak allows them to reach nectar deep inside flowers.
Habitat and Range
During summer breeding season, ruby-throated hummingbirds are found across Eastern North America and Canada, from southern Canada south to Florida and west to the Great Plains. They prefer open areas like meadows and backyards with plenty of flowers and flower gardens.
In winter, ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate to Mexico and Central America. Some fly across the 500 mile wide Gulf of Mexico in a nonstop, 20+ hour flight! Others follow the coasts down through Mexico. They favor tropical forest edges, pine forests, and shade coffee plantations as their winter habitat.
| Season | Location |
|---|---|
| Summer | Eastern North America and Canada from southern Canada to Florida, west to the Great Plains |
| Winter | Mexico and Central America |
Migration
One of the most incredible facts about the ruby-throated hummingbird is its migration. To travel from their summer breeding habitats to their winter homes in Mexico and Central America, most ruby-throated hummingbirds fly non-stop 500+ miles across the Gulf of Mexico each fall and spring.
This feat is especially astonishing given a ruby-throated hummingbird’s tiny body size. They weigh only 2-6 grams but make this incredibly strenuous journey twice a year by calling on their fat reserves.
Researchers estimate the flight takes a whopping 20+ hours depending on the winds. During this time they beat their wings up to 70 times per second and reach heart rates of over 1,200 beats per minute! What an athletic little bird.
Diet
Ruby-throated hummingbirds have very high metabolisms. At rest, their hearts beat up to 250 beats per minute. To support their active lifestyle, ruby-throated hummingbirds have a diet consisting mostly of nectar and small insects:
- Nectar – They use their long, specially adapted tongues to drink nectar from tubular flowers including columbines, trumpet vines, bee balms, and honeysuckles.
- Insects – They also eat small insects for protein including gnats, fruit flies, spiders, and aphids.
Amazingly, ruby-throated hummingbirds must consume up to half their body weight in nectar each day! This is why they are constantly visiting flowers to refuel. They are especially drawn to red tubular flowers.
Behavior and Lifestyle
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are solitary, territorial birds. Males establish breeding territories each summer and aggressively defend their area from intruders. Females may also defend areas around their nests.
Here are some interesting behaviors and traits that allow ruby-throated hummingbirds to thrive:
- Flight Maneuvers – Their specialized wings allow them to hover in midair, fly backwards, upside-down, and rapidly change directions.
- Aggressive Displays – Males perform dramatic display dives to impress females and defend territories.
- Excellent Memory – They can remember every flower they visit and won’t revisit ones that don’t have nectar.
- Torpor – To save energy, they can enter a hibernation-like state at night lowering their body temperature and heart rate.
Watching ruby-throated hummingbirds guard territories and perform their elegant flight maneuvers is one of the joys of having them visit your backyard.
Reproduction and Nesting
After arriving back from migration in the springtime, male ruby-throated hummingbirds establish breeding territories. They perform courtship displays, flying in loops and dive displays to impress watching females.
Once paired, the female builds a tiny cup-shaped nest out of plant down, buds, moss, and spider webs on the branch of a tree or shrub. The eggs are only about the size of a coffee bean. She incubates the eggs for 11-14 days before they hatch.
| Nest Facts | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | On a downward sloping tree branch, 5-20 feet above ground |
| Materials | Plant down, spider webs, lichen, buds |
| Size | About 2 inches across and 1 inch deep |
| Eggs | 2 white eggs about the size of a coffee bean |
| Incubation | 11-14 days |
The tiny chicks hatch with eyes closed and almost no feathers. They develop quickly on a diet of regurgitated nectar and insects from their mother. After about 3 weeks, the young hummingbirds are ready to leave the nest and fend for themselves.
Why Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Are Amazing
After learning about the ruby-throated hummingbird’s Identification, habitat, migration, diet, and lifestyle, it’s clear this is one remarkable bird! Here are some of the top reasons ruby-throated hummingbirds are so amazing:
Tiny Size But Huge Strength
Weighing less than a nickel, ruby-throated hummingbirds are true powerhouses for their tiny size. They beat their wings up to 70 times per second and reach heart rates of over 1,200 beats per minute during migration.
Incredible Flying Skills
Ruby-throated hummingbirds can fly like no other bird. They can hover suspended in midair, fly backwards, upside-down, and rapidly change directions thanks to specialized wings.
Long Distance Migration
Making a nonstop 500 mile journey across the Gulf takes extreme fortitude. Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate this immense distance relying on stored fat reserves.
Agility and Speed
Clocking speeds faster than 30 miles per hour, ruby-throated hummingbirds perform dazzling dives and aerial displays. Their rapid maneuvers are fascinating to watch.
Tireless Energy
With a resting heart rate of 250 beats per minute and eating up to half their weight daily in nectar, ruby-throated hummingbirds expend incredible energy while living life in the fast lane.
These characteristics and more make the ruby-throated hummingbird one of nature’s most captivating birds. We are so lucky to be visited by these flying jewels each summer.
10 Fun Facts About Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds
Want to learn more ruby-throated hummingbird trivia? Here are 10 fun facts about these flashy flying birds:
- Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the smallest birds in North America.
- They have the fastest wingbeat of all birds – up to 70 flaps per second!
- Their wings rotate in a full circle which allows them to hover and fly in any direction.
- Ruby-throated hummingbirds have excellent memory – they remember every flower they visit.
- They feed on nectar, sap, and small insects like gnats, spiders, and aphids.
- Males perform dramatic courtship displays, diving from heights of 30-40 feet.
- Hummingbirds have no sense of smell – they locate flowers visually and by memory.
- They build tiny nests from soft plant down, moss, and spider webs.
- Ruby-throated hummingbirds can fly 25-30 miles per hour.
- They migrate 500+ miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico twice a year.
How To Attract Hummingbirds
Want to bring ruby-throated hummingbirds to your backyard? Here are some tips to provide an enticing habitat:
- Plant native nectar flowers like bee balm, cardinal flower, and trumpet honeysuckle.
- Choose red, tubular flowers which attract hummingbirds.
- Keep flowers blooming from spring through fall by planting early and late bloomers.
- Hang nectar feeders with a 1:4 ratio of sugar to water in shady spots.
- Provide a water mister or shallow bath for birds to bathe.
- Avoid using pesticides which reduce insects that hummingbirds eat.
- Be patient! It may take a few weeks for hummingbirds to find a new food source.
Following these tips will create an enticing habitat hummingbirds flock to all season long. Enjoy watching these energetic speed demons visiting your yard!
Conclusion
The ruby-throated hummingbird migrates huge distances across North America each year, traveling between its summer breeding grounds and winter homes in Mexico and Central America. With its dazzling red throat patch, incredible flying skills, tireless activity, and spunky nature, this tiny bird is truly one of the most fascinating. Improving your backyard habitat with nectar flowers and feeders is sure to attract these aerial acrobats. The ruby-throated hummingbird reminds us that small packages can contain incredible strength, speed, and endurance. Keep an eye out for these glimmering jewels visiting flower patches near you!
