Bird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubrisRuby-throated hummingbirds are extraordinary aerial acrobats, capable of beating their wings up to 53 times per second and hovering with pinpoint precision. Males sport a brilliant iridescent emerald back and a fiery red throat patch that flashes brightly when angled toward the sun. Each spring, millions cross the Gulf of Mexico in a grueling 20-hour non-stop flight to reach breeding grounds across eastern North America.
MigratoryPollinatorNectarivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFloral nectar, Small insects, Spiders
Predators
- Praying mantises
- Domestic cats
- Sharp-shinned hawks
ThreatsWindow collisions, habitat loss, pesticides, and domestic cat predation
HabitatsDeciduous forests, forest edges, orchards, suburban gardens, and parks
Life span3–5 years
Classification
- OrderApodiformes
- FamilyTrochilidae
- GenusArchilochus
- SpeciesArchilochus colubris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Feeder Maintenance: Clean sugar-water feeders every few days to prevent lethal mold growth.
- Garden Design: Plant native tubular flowers like cardinal flower and trumpet vine to attract them naturally.
- Window Protection: Place window decals or screens nearby to prevent high-speed collisions.
Competitor VJAnderson / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Nectar Source (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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Backyard Birds
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