The male and female hummingbirds with red heads that are found in North America belong to the species Archilochus colubris, commonly known as the ruby-throated hummingbird. The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most widely distributed and common hummingbird species in eastern North America. The male ruby-throated hummingbird has a bright metallic red throat, while the female has a white throat with some red streaks on the sides. In this article, we will discuss key identification features, behaviors, habitat, diet, and other interesting facts about the male and female ruby-throated hummingbird.
Male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
The adult male ruby-throated hummingbird can be easily identified by its bright metallic red throat, from which the species gets its name. When the light hits just right, the male’s throat appears to glow brilliantly. Other key identification features of the male ruby-throat include:
- Green back and crown
- White breast
- Forked black tail with white tips
- Wings make a humming sound in flight from rapid wing beats
The male ruby-throat has an average body length of 3.5 inches and weight of 0.1 to 0.2 ounces.
During the breeding season, the male ruby-throat is highly territorial and aggressive, fiercely defending nectar sources and perches in his territory. The males perform elaborate flight displays to attract females and chase away intruding males. The flight displays involve flying in loops and diving with the wings making a loud buzzing or humming sound.
Nesting and Reproduction
The male ruby-throat does not assist the female in nest building or caring for the young. His only role is to mate with the female. After copulation, he has no further contact with the female or offspring. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest out of plant down, spider webs, and lichen on the upper branches of a tree using spider silk as glue. She lays 2 pea-sized white eggs and incubates them for 10-14 days before they hatch.
Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
The adult female ruby-throated hummingbird can be identified by the following key features:
- White throat with red streaks on the sides
- Pale green back
- White breast with green sides
- Rounded tail with white tips
The female is slightly larger than the male, with an average body length of 3.75 inches and weight of 0.1 to 0.2 ounces.
Nesting and Reproduction
As mentioned above, the female ruby-throat is solely responsible for nest building, incubating eggs, and rearing the chicks. About two weeks after the eggs hatch, the young hummingbirds fledge from the nest. The female continues to feed the fledglings for another couple of weeks as they learn to forage on their own.
The female raises 1-2 broods per breeding season. On very rare occasions, a female may raise a second brood with a different male. After successfully raising her broods for the season, the female ruby-throat migrates south to her wintering grounds in Central America.
Habitat
During the breeding season, the ruby-throated hummingbird inhabits open areas such as meadows, parks, backyards, and forest edges from the East Coast to as far west as South Dakota and Texas. They occur in a variety of habitats including:
- Flower gardens
- Orchards
- Fields and meadows
- Open woodlands
- Forest clearings
Access to nectar-producing flowers like columbines, trumpet vines, bee balms, and jewelweeds is essential habitat for ruby-throated hummingbirds. They are also attracted to nectar feeders in backyards during migration and in the breeding range.
During migration and winter, ruby-throats inhabit tropical forest edges, second growth, plantations, gardens, and parks from southern Mexico to Panama.
Diet
Ruby-throated hummingbirds have a specialized diet to fuel their high metabolisms and hovering flight ability. Their diet consists primarily of:
- Nectar – from flowers and artificial feeders
- Small insects and spiders – provides protein
- Tree sap – licks sap from holes drilled by sapsucker birds
- Pollen
Some favorite nectar sources include monardas, trumpet creeper, jewelweed, and weeds like clover and thistles. Ruby-throats feed on small insects like gnats, flies, aphids, and spiders by hawking them in flight.
The ruby-throat’s long slender bill and tongue allows it to nectar at a rate of up to 13 licks per second! This allows it to get the massive amount of calories required to power its incredible metabolism.
Migration
Ruby-throated hummingbirds make one of the most incredible migratory journeys of any bird in the world in relation to their tiny body size. They migrate solo each spring and fall between their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada to their winter range in Mexico, Central America, and Florida. Here are some key facts about their migration:
- migrate north in spring from March-May
- migrate south in fall from August-October
- travel up to 23 miles per day, with an average of 18 miles per day
- many fly non-stop over the Gulf of Mexico, a 500 mile journey taking 18-22 hours
- face predators, starvation, extreme weather, and collisions with manmade objects along migration routes
Ruby-throats build up body fat for their arduous journeys, nearly doubling their weight. Many hummingbirds get blown off course and lost during migration, showing up in unusual locations far from their typical range.
Interesting Facts
Here are some additional fascinating facts about ruby-throated hummingbirds:
- Heart rate can reach up to 1,260 beats per minute
- Wings beat around 50 times per second
- Only bird with the ability to fly backwards
- Rotate their wings in a full circle during flight
- Extremely low mortality rate in captivity, oldest known lived 12 years
- Males make no vocal sounds, females make chip or squeak noises
- Young hummingbirds get their food from their mothers for about 2 weeks after they fledge from the nest
- Molt and replace each feather 1-2 times per year
- Males perform elaborate dive displays during courtship, reaching speeds of 60 mph
- Consume up to 3 times their body weight in nectar per day
- Are capable of slowing down their metabolisms and entering torpor to conserve energy
The ruby-throated hummingbird remains one of the most fascinating and recognizable backyard birds in their range. Their shimmering beauty and aerial acrobatics never fail to dazzle lucky observers. Though small in stature, they epitomize the splendor of nature.
Conclusion
In summary, the male and female ruby-throated hummingbird can be distinguished by the bright red throat patch on the males and the streaked white throat on females. They breed in open areas with flower gardens across eastern North America. Ruby-throats have specialized diets to fuel their extreme metabolisms and undergo one of the most incredible migrations in the animal kingdom. With unique adaptations like backwards hovering flight, rapid wing beats, and lightning-fast licking, the ruby-throated hummingbird is truly one of nature’s most incredible flying jewels.