The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is one of the most common and widely recognized hummingbird species in North America. As their name suggests, male ruby-throats have a distinctive bright red throat patch that appears black in certain lights. These tiny birds have an extremely fast metabolism and must feed on nectar frequently throughout the day from a variety of brightly colored tubular flowers. But out of all the flowers they visit, do ruby-throated hummingbirds have a favorite?
Quick answer: Ruby-throated hummingbirds are strongly attracted to red, orange, and pink tubular flowers that provide ample nectar. Some of their favorite flowers include bee balm, cardinal flower, trumpet vine, butterfly bush, and pineapple sage. However, they will opportunistically feed on any nectar-producing flowers, even non-native species, based on availability. Their preferences can also change throughout the seasons and migration.
The ruby-throated hummingbird’s small size prohibits them from being able to access the nectar of many flowers. Their long slender beaks and tongues are specially adapted to reach nectar at the base of long, tubular flowers. They prefer flowers that are red, orange, or pink in color and rely heavily on their sense of vision when foraging. But beyond color, hummingbirds select flowers based on a number of factors including bloom size, shape, nectar volume and sugar concentration. Studying their favorite flowers provides insight into the unique ecology and behavior of these energetic birds.
What Makes a Flower Attractive to Hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds have evolved alongside many flowering plants, leading to specialized relationships where certain flower characteristics appeal to hummingbird preferences. Here are some of the main features that make a flower attractive to hummingbirds:
Color
– Hummingbirds see color differently than humans. They can see ultraviolet light, are particularly sensitive to red wavelengths, and less sensitive to orange and green.
– Bright red, orange, and pink flowers tend to attract the most ruby-throats, since these colors are easiest for them to see. White and purple flowers are also visited regularly.
Flower Shape
– Preferred flowers have a tubular or trumpet-like shape which protects nectar and accommodates hummingbird beaks and tongues.
– Flowers may have a landing platform to perch while feeding.
– Pendent or hanging flowers allow better access while hovering.
Nectar
– Abundant, high-sugar nectar with concentration around 20-25% is optimal.
– Nectar energy sustains their high metabolism and powers flight.
– Deep nectar reservoirs are preferred over shallow flowers.
Bloom Size
– Flowers around 2 inches in length are ideal, matching bill length.
– Smaller or shorter flowers may limit access.
– Larger bloom sizes may be monopolized by bigger hummers.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Favorite Flowers
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are generalists when it comes to flower preferences. They will visit backyard feeders, annuals, perennials, vines, shrubs, and trees to get the nectar they require. Some of their top favorite flower picks are:
Bee Balm
Also called monarda or bergamot, bee balm produces clusters of red, pink, or purple tubular flowers in late spring to summer. The flower shape allows easy access to nectar, and bee balm can repeat bloom through fall. Ruby-throats are strongly attracted to the colorful floral display.
Cardinal Flower
With bright red blooms arranged on long spikes, cardinal flower advertises to hummingbirds with its ideal tubular shape and color. It blooms mid to late summer when fewer nectar sources may be available. Cardinal flower grows along streams and marshy areas.
Trumpet Vine
Trumpet vine flourishes in the southeastern United States, where it climbs trellises and fences with ease. Its orange-red, trumpet-shaped flowers hold a large nectar reservoir that appeals to ruby-throats. Blooms appear in summer and fall.
Butterfly Bush
In butterfly bush cultivars with long, tubular flower shapes, ruby-throats can access nectar while butterflies feed on shorter flowered varieties. These drought-tolerant bushes come in colors like pink, purple, and white. They bloom mid-summer into fall.
Pineapple Sage
With brilliant red flowers packed with nectar, pineapple sage is a favorite late-season food source. Its dome-shaped flower has a landing platform for perching. Pineapple sage is a perennial herb that can grow quite large in a single season.
Other Favorites:
– Fuchsia
– Lantana
– Columbine
– Petunia
– Salvia
– Honeysuckle
– Canna Lily
– Coral Honeysuckle
– Penstemon
– Firecracker Plant
– Cigar Plant
Do Ruby-Throats Have a Single Favorite Flower?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are opportunistic foragers. This means they will visit a wide variety of flowering plants depending on seasonal and geographical availability. Their flexibility allows them to adapt to a range of habitats and changing nectar resources. As a result, they don’t show an exclusive preference for any single flower species or cultivar.
However, within a given habitat, an individual ruby-throat may regularly visit specific backyard flowers, gardens, or wildflower patches where they’ve had success in the past. They often revisit bountiful nectar sources. Some regional favorites stand out, like trumpet vine in the southeast and fireweed in the northwest. But on a broader scale, ruby-throated hummingbirds take advantage of any suitable nectar source they encounter during their extensive migrations and movements.
How Do Ruby-Throats Select Flowers?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds use a variety of cues when foraging for nectar:
Color Vision
Their ability to see a wide color spectrum, including ultraviolet light, helps target red and orange flowers.
Flower Shape
Tubular flowers serve as visual cues advertising accessible nectar for hummingbirds.
Flower Abundance
Areas with dense groupings of flowers indicate abundant nectar.
Flower Movement
Motion caused by wind or insects may indicate rewarded flowers.
Flower Height
Ruby-throats regularly visit flowers at all levels, from ground to canopy.
Memory
They remember beneficial flower locations from previous experience.
Do Favorite Flowers Change by Season?
The flowering plants ruby-throated hummingbirds visit can shift dramatically throughout spring, summer and fall as different species come into bloom. Here are some ways their favorites change seasonally:
Spring
– Prefer early bloomers like honeysuckle, columbine, and cigar plants.
– Rely on flowering trees and shrubs.
– Use tubular flowers with plentiful nectar to fuel migration and breeding.
Summer
– Shift preferences to summer-blooming garden flowers.
– Favor perennials like bee balm, trumpet vine, and cardinal flower.
– Visit shrubs like butterfly bush and Vitex.
– Use woodland edge flowers and roadside weeds.
Fall
– Switch to late-season blooms like salvia, zinnia, and lantana.
– Rely more on herbs like pineapple sage.
– Continue visiting fall-flowering vines, shrubs, and trees.
– Build energy reserves before migration at feeders.
How Does Migration Influence Favorite Flowers?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds follow the bloom progression northward as they migrate in spring and southward in fall. Their route takes them through a sequence of flowering plants perfectly timed to provide nectar along the way. Here’s how migration impacts their flower preferences:
Spring Migration
– Depart tropical winter grounds in February and March.
– Fly across Gulf of Mexico 500 miles nonstop over 18-24 hours.
– Refuel after Gulf crossing at first food sources like honeysuckle.
– Follow blooming wildflowers, trees, and shrubs northward through summer breeding grounds.
Fall Migration
– Begin southbound migration in August, individual timing varies.
– Make multiple stops across latitudes at flowers along the way.
– Take more direct route over Gulf of Mexico as fewer blooms are present.
– Arrive on Mexican and Central American wintering grounds in October through December.
Do Male and Female Ruby-Throats Select Different Flowers?
Male and female ruby-throated hummingbirds have essentially identical flower preferences. A few minor differences may occur:
– Males may prefer flowers centered in territories to guard mates.
– Females may opt for flowers away from male harassment while nesting.
– Females may choose flowers closer to the ground while gathering spider silk and nest materials.
– Molting and juvenile birds may use different food sources.
But overall, male and female ruby-throats largely visit the same suite of tubular blooms in similar habitat types. Both sexes rely heavily on favored flowers during demanding life stages like migration and breeding.
How Do Backyard Feeders Impact Flower Preferences?
Backyard feeders provide an abundant supplemental nectar source for ruby-throated hummingbirds, especially during migration and winter. Here’s how artificial feeders may influence their flower preferences:
| How Feeders Impact Preferences |
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However, even with feeders available, ruby-throats still gather most of their diet from natural flower nectar for nutrients and variety. Backyard feeders serve as a supplemental nectar source when wildflower options are limited.
What is the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird’s Nectar Composition?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds have extremely high metabolisms and must feed frequently throughout the day. Here are some key facts about their nectar and energy requirements:
| Nectar Facts | Energy Requirements |
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This need for frequent, high-calorie feeding is why ruby-throats seek out flowers with ample supplies of quality nectar.
How Many Flowers Do Ruby-Throats Visit Daily?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are constantly on the move to find food. They must visit hundreds or even thousands of flowers per day to meet their extreme metabolic demands. Factors that influence daily flower visits include:
| Factors | Flower Visits Per Day |
|---|---|
| Average non-migrating | 400-1,200 flowers |
| Migrating | Up to 2,400 flowers |
| Nursing female | Hundreds to thousands daily |
| Flower density | More in flower-rich habitat |
| Nectar production | More with lower nectar output |
| Time of day | Most in early morning |
| Energy balance | More when calories are lacking |
This constant foraging brings ruby-throated hummingbirds into contact with a huge diversity of flowering plants daily as they search for their next nectar meal.
Conclusion
Ruby-throated hummingbirds have adapted to take advantage of a wide variety of flower species and types. They opportunistically visit the most abundant and nutritious nectar sources available in their habitat, ranging from backyard gardens to wildflower meadows. While they prefer red tubular flowers and artificial feeders, ruby-throats readily exploit other flower shapes, sizes, and colors. Tracking their flower preferences provides insight into their behavioral ecology and reveals the diversity of plants that support these charismatic pollinators throughout their annual cycle. By providing an array of their favorite flowers in your garden, you can create an essential oasis for hummingbirds.
