The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a fascinating and uniquely special bird. As the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America, it stands out from other hummingbird species in many ways that make it exceptionally remarkable.
What is a ruby-throated hummingbird?
The ruby-throated hummingbird is a small, fast-flying bird native to North America. They are named for the vivid ruby red color on the throat of adult males. Ruby-throats have bright emerald green backs, gray-white undersides, and forked tails. Adult females lack the red throat patch and are similar in appearance to juveniles. Despite their tiny size, ruby-throats are aggressive and territorial, especially when defending nectar feeders.
Where do ruby-throated hummingbirds live?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds have the largest breeding range of any hummingbird in North America. They breed throughout the eastern United States and southeastern Canada during the summer, then migrate south to Mexico and Central America for the winter. Their breeding habitat stretches across forests, meadows, parks, and gardens from Nova Scotia to Florida to Texas.
What is unique about the ruby-throated hummingbird?
Here are some of the special traits and abilities that make the ruby-throated hummingbird unique:
- It is the only breeding hummingbird species in Eastern North America.
- It undertakes an incredible migration each year, traveling between its breeding and wintering grounds.
- It can hover in midair by rapidly beating its wings up to 70 times per second.
- It has the fastest metabolic rate of any animal, requiring frequent feeding.
- It feeds on nectar using a specialized long tongue that extends past its bill.
- It is extremely territorial, aggressively defending nectar sources and feeders.
- Males perform elaborate courtship displays, diving at females at high speeds.
Ruby-throated hummingbird migration
One of the most fascinating facts about ruby-throated hummingbirds is their incredible migration each year between their summer breeding grounds and winter grounds in Central America. Here are some key points about their migration:
- They travel between 500-2500 miles each way on their spring and fall migrations.
- Their migration can involve nonstop flights of over 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico.
- They migrate on an internal compass, navigating by the sun and stars.
- Migration occurs at night when air is more stable.
- Cold fronts and storms can force them into emergency stops when crossing the Gulf.
- Their migration pathways loop through the Eastern United States in a figure 8 pattern.
This tiny bird’s migration is an endurance feat for such a small creature. They burn huge amounts of energy while flying hundreds of miles nonstop over oceans for days at a time. The ruby-throated hummingbird has finely adapted to undertake this strenuous migration each year.
Ruby-throated hummingbird feeding
The ruby-throated hummingbird has special adaptations for feeding on nectar from flowers. Here are some interesting facts about how these birds feed:
- They mainly eat nectar from tubular flowers using their long, specially adapted tongues.
- Their tongues extend more than twice the length of their bills to reach nectar.
- They prefer red tubular flowers, including cardinal flower, bee balm, and trumpet vine.
- They lick nectar up to 13 times per second while feeding.
- They consume about half their body weight in nectar daily and feed every 10-15 minutes.
- They supplement their diet with small insects and tree sap for protein.
- Their hover feeding allows them to drink from flowers while stationary in midair.
The ruby-throat’s feeding behaviors and adaptations allow it to efficiently exploit flower nectar, its main energy source. Its specialized tongue morphology gives it access to nectar that other animals cannot reach.
Ruby-throated hummingbird courtship
Ruby-throated hummingbirds engage in elaborate courtship displays that are visually and acoustically striking. Here are some interesting facts about their courtship rituals:
- Males perform dramatic courtship dives to impress females, diving from 30-100 ft high.
- They ascend rapidly then dive at high speeds past females, making a loud chirping sound.
- Males also display by flying in repeated figure 8 patterns in front of females.
- Their wings beat up to 200 times per second during courtship dives.
- Males establish courtship territories with plentiful flowers to attract females.
- Females build nests and care for the young alone after mating.
- Their displays occur mainly in late spring and summer during the breeding season.
The male ruby-throat’s elaborate courtship displays advertise its fitness and health to potential mates. Their aerobatic moves require extreme speed, power and maneuverability.
Ruby-throated hummingbird nesting
Female ruby-throated hummingbirds build intricate nests to house their eggs and raise offspring. Here are key facts about their nesting habits:
- Nests are made of soft plant down and spider silk woven together with buds, bark, and lichens.
- They are built on downward hanging branches at heights of 5-20 feet.
- The tiny nests are only about 2 inches wide and may be camouflaged with lichens.
- Females lay two pea-sized white eggs that hatch in about 14 days.
- The mother alone cares for the chicks, feeding them regurgitated nectar and insects.
- Chicks fledge and leave the nest after 3 weeks.
The female ruby-throat’s nest-building abilities allow it to construct a secure home for its vulnerable eggs and hatchlings high up in the safety of tree branches.
Ruby-throated hummingbird metabolism
Ruby-throated hummingbirds have an incredibly fast metabolism that enables their unique lifestyles. Here are some facts about their metabolism:
- They have the highest metabolic rate per unit weight of any animal.
- Their heart rate can reach over 1200 beats per minute during flight.
- They breathe 250 times per minute while active.
- They consume 1.5-3 times their weight in nectar daily.
- Their wings beat up to 200 times per second during courtship displays.
- This extreme metabolism powers their flight and supports migration.
- They enter torpor at night to conserve energy when food is scarce.
The ruby-throat’s astoundingly fast metabolism provides the massive energy output needed to support hovering flight and endure long migrations. Their energy consumption, relative to their tiny body size, is among the highest of any animal.
Ruby-throated hummingbird predators and threats
Despite their diminutive size, ruby-throated hummingbirds face threats from predators and environmental factors. Major threats include:
- Small falcons and flycatchers prey on them in flight.
- Spider webs trap and kill hummingbirds.
- House cats kill millions, especially fledglings.
- Collisions with buildings and towers are common during migration.
- Severe storms and hurricanes disrupt migration over the Gulf of Mexico.
- Habitat loss reduces pollinator-friendly flowers they depend on.
- Pesticides can poison them through ingesting nectar.
Yet their speed and maneuverability help ruby-throats evade predators. They play a critical role as pollinators, so protecting them benefits ecosystems and humans alike.
Ruby-throated hummingbird population trends
Ruby-throated hummingbird populations have declined in some regions but remain stable over their large range. Some population trends include:
- Estimated 7-10 million in North America, with about 5 million breeding in the U.S.
- Breeding Bird Surveys indicate stable overall populations from 1966 to 2019.
- But surveys show declines in the Midwest since the 1970s.
- Higher breeding densities now seen in the U.S. Southeast.
- Climate change may enable northward expansion of their range.
- Backyard bird feeders with nectar help supplement their food needs.
While ruby-throat numbers are still strong, efforts to conserve their habitat and combat building collisions during migration can help ensure stable future populations of these special pollinators.
Conclusion
In summary, the ruby-throated hummingbird is a uniquely remarkable and captivating bird. Its diminutive size belies its incredible migratory endurance, aerial agility, and extreme metabolism. This species has finely adapted to exploit flower nectar across a large range. The ruby-throat’s spectacular diving courtship displays and tiny delicately-built nests showcase its flying skills and artistry. These energetic pollinators face substantial migratory challenges and threats that require habitat conservation. But their resilience so far remains inspirational, cementing their special status among North America’s avian treasures.
