Meet the Hummingbirds
Learn more about the 14 most common hummingbird species in North America.
By Stephen Kress and Elissa Wolfson
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Named for the male’s dazzling red throat, the Ruby-throated is the only hummingbird regularly found in eastern North America. Despite their tiny size, these birds perform a marathon fall migration, traveling from southern Canada to Central America. Their wings beat an incredible 80 times per second. Males perform aerial displays in front of females during courtship.
Habitat: hovers to sip nectar from flowers in open woods and gardens
Flight field marks: holds its tail still when hovering
Sitting field marks: The male’s brilliant red throat might appear black when backlit; females and young have white throats. All have iridescent green backs and long, narrow bills. The tail projects beyond the wingtips.
Voice: squeaky, high-pitched calls. The wings produce a faint, high buzz.
Nesting: The female uses plant fiber and spider webs to build her nests on forked branches. She lays two white, bean-sized eggs, then incubates and feeds chicks.
Feeding: tiny insects and spiders; prefers tubular red flowers and nectar from impatiens and trumpet honeysuckle
Previous | Next | Allen's Hummingbird | Anna's Hummingbird | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Blue-throated Hummingbird | Broad-billed Hummingbird | Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Buff-bellied Hummingbird | Calliope Hummingbird | Costa’s Hummingbird | Green-breasted Mango | Lucifer Hummingbird | Magnificent Hummingbird | Rufous Hummingbird
This article originally appeared in Hummingbirds, part of BowTie Inc.'s Popular Birding Series.
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