Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Archilochus colubris 4
The only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is more often mistaken for an insect than for another species of bird. The smallest bird encountered in its breeding range (3-3 ¼ inches), the Ruby-throated Hummingbird may be identified by its small size, green back and forehead, long bill, and off-white breast. Males have a striking red throat (called a "gorget") and forked tail, while the female lacks this adornment and has a rounded tail. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird breeds across most of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. In winter, many Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate across the Gulf of Mexico to winter in southern Mexico and Central America, while others spend the winter in south Florida and the Florida Keys. Small numbers of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds winter further north along both coasts of Florida into the Gulf States and the Carolinas. During the summer, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds breed in deciduous forest, woodland edges, and around human developments. This species winters in tropical forests. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds eat small insects and drink nectar from tubular flowers, and will often enter gardens and yards to feed from hummingbird feeders. It is a major pollinator in its breeding range. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds may most often be observed feeding from flowers and hummingbird feeders, where they may either hover or perch while feeding. It is also possible to observe Ruby-throated Hummingbirds defending feeders or productive patches of flowers, when they may engage in acrobatic mid-air dogfights with other hummingbirds. This species is primarily active during the day.
Associations 5
This species plays an important ecosystem role as pollinators. In fact, some species such as trumpet creeper, a woodland vine, seem to be adapted specifically to pollination by ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds compete with other hummingbird species for food. Where their ranges overlap, ruby-throated hummingbirds appear to be generally subordinate to other hummingbird species.
Ecosystem Impact: pollinates
Conservation status 6
Due to their small size and brilliant plumage, ruby-throated hummingbirds were hunted for collection during the nineteenth century. Although the species was a great prize, the population never became threatened and the species remains common in its range. There are an estimated 7,300,000 ruby-throated hummingbirds worldwide.
This species is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty between the U.S. and Canada, and like all hummingbirds, is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
US Migratory Bird Act: protected
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: appendix ii
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Habitat 7
During the breeding season, this species can be found in deciduous and pine forests and forest edges, orchards, and gardens. During the winter, ruby-throated hummingbirds live in tropical deciduous forests, citrus groves, forest edges, hedgerows, along rivers and marshes, and in old fields.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest
Wetlands: marsh
Other Habitat Features: suburban ; agricultural ; riparian
Sources and Credits
- (c) Dan Pancamo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/pancamo/6134654950/
- (c) Pslawinski, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Juvenile_Male_Ruby-throated_Hummingbird.jpg
- (c) Melody Lytle, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Melody Lytle
- Adapted by Natalie LaScala from a work by (c) Smithsonian Institution, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/34818187
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31378710
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31378713
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31378703
