Ruby-throated Hummingbird
A species of Ruby-throated and Black-chinned Hummingbirds Scientific name : Archilochus colubris Genus : Ruby-throated and Black-chinned Hummingbirds
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, A species of Ruby-throated and Black-chinned Hummingbirds
Botanical name: Archilochus colubris
Genus: Ruby-throated and Black-chinned Hummingbirds
Photo By silversea_starsong , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Like with all hummingbirds, the main source of food for the ruby-throated Hummingbird is flower nectar; it's estimated that this agile hummingbird feeds on more than 30 flower species and it visits more than 2000 flowers in a day. It's particularly attracted to red and yellow flowers. All hummingbirds, including the ruby-throated Hummingbird, are able to fly backward and sideways, which makes them unique among all bird species.
Size
7 - 9 cm
Life Expectancy
9 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
1 - 3 eggs
Incubation Period
1 - 2 broods
Number of Broods
12 - 14 days
Nestling Period
18 - 22 days
Feeding Habits
Ruby-throated Hummingbird primarily consume nectar from flowers like trumpet creeper and honeysuckle. They also feed at hummingbird feeders or on tree sap. Their diet includes insects such as mosquitoes and gnats, and arthropods for protein and minerals. They catch prey midair or extract from webs and may feed on sap wells.
Habitat
Ruby-throated Hummingbird typically inhabit deciduous and pine forests, forest edges, as well as urban areas like orchards and gardens across Eastern United States and southeastern Canada. They favor a habitat that offers a mix of open spaces and dense foliage at various altitudes, thriving in old fields, meadows, stream borders, and backyards, indicating a preference for mild to warm climates with abundant vegetation. During winter, ruby-throated Hummingbird migrate to tropical areas where they reside in dry forests, citrus groves, hedgerows, and scrubs.
Nest Behavior
Female ruby-throated Hummingbird solely constructs the nest over 6-10 days, subsequently laying 1-3 eggs. She stiffens the nest's base by stamping and shapes the rim using her neck and chest. Post hatching, the female solely provides for the chicks until fledging.
Nest Characteristics
Ruby-throated Hummingbird typically builds nests on slender branches, often 10-40 feet up in deciduous trees or sometimes pines. These nests resemble large thimbles, crafted from thistle or dandelion down, spider silk, and occasionally pine resin. Dimensions average 2 inches wide by 1 inch deep, with lichen and moss camouflage on the exterior.
Dite type
Nectivorous
People often ask
Migration Overview
The ruby-throated hummingbird is migratory, spending most of the winter in Florida, southern Mexico and Central America, as far south as extreme western Panama, and the West Indies. During migration, some birds embark on a nonstop 900-mile journey across the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean from Panama or Mexico to the eastern United States.
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Sugar Water
Bird Feeder Type
Nectar Feeder
Behavior
Ruby-throated Hummingbird are renowned for their extraordinary flight skills, able to hover in place, fly backwards or change direction instantaneously. These birds spend their days energetically flitting between nectar-rich flowers, pausing only to perch and survey their surroundings or engage in territorial disputes. Males in particular are fiercely defensive of their feeding grounds, often engaging in heated aerial conflicts and strategic beak threats against rivals. The males also perform elaborate courtship dives to woo potential mates. Despite their feisty demeanor, ruby-throated Hummingbird will defer to larger hummingbird species and exhibit an array of behaviors unique to their interaction with the environment and each other.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Swifts and hummingbirds Family
Hummingbirds Species
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 
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