bird · GBIF taxon 5228514
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubrisAlso known as Ruby-throat
These tiny, iridescent dynamos are the only hummingbirds that breed regularly in eastern North America, famous for their direct, non-stop migration across the Gulf of Mexico. Males flash a brilliant, light-refracting ruby-red throat gorget, while both sexes navigate forest edges and gardens with astonishing aerial agility, beating their wings up to 80 times per second. During the breeding season, females construct walnut-sized nests of plant down and spider silk, camouflaging the exterior with lichens.
MigratoryNectar-feedingIridescent
- diet
- Flower nectar, tree sap, and small insects like gnats and aphids
- family
- Trochilidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, window collisions, outdoor cats, and pesticide use
- life Span
- 3 to 5 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Feeder Maintenance: Clean sugar-water feeders every few days to prevent deadly mold growth.
- Plant Native Flowers: Grow tubular blooms like bee balm and trumpet vine to provide natural forage.
- Window Safety: Apply decals to windows to prevent fatal high-speed collisions.