What Are Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Like?

The ruby-throated hummingbird is a small bird in the family Trochilidae, which contains 328 species of hummingbird. Hummingbirds also belong to the order Apodiformes, which means unfooted birds. Although small, the birds do actually have feet but they are held close to the body and are not visible in flight.

  1. Description

    • The ruby-throated hummingbird is a small bird, growing to just 4 inches in length, and weighing between 2 and 6 grams. Male birds have an emerald green back and head with a paler stomach and a red throat. Females are similar in color but with a whiter front and throat. Females are slightly larger than the males and have longer bills. The birds' tiny wings beat at 40 to 80 strokes per second, making them capable of flight speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

    Range and Habitat

    • The bird lives mainly in woodland areas, but can be found in gardens that have plenty of flowers in bloom. They range all along the eastern U.S., in southern Canada, down through Mexico and into parts of Central America. The species also lives on some of the Caribbean islands during the winter months, embarking on oceanic flights that take up to 20 hours from the mainland.

    Diet

    • The ruby-throated hummingbird is an omnivore. It will eat small insects and spiders but feeds mainly on the sweet, high energy nectar of flowers and tree saps. It is an agile flier, using its rapid wing beats to fly forwards, backwards, side to side and even upside down. Long beaks reach deep into flowers to lap at the nectar. The bird must eat up to twice its body weight daily because of its super fast metabolism and high energy flying style.

    Life Cycle

    • The birds live a solitary existence, coming together only briefly to mate. Males use their attractive plumage to get the attention of females in their territory and, after a brief, uncomplicated courtship, the birds mate. Once the female is pregnant, the male has no more to do with the process, leaving the female to build her walnut-sized nest. Between one and two pea-sized eggs are laid, which the female incubates for 12 to 16 days before they hatch. The mother feeds the chicks who are ready to leave the nest after 18 to 23 days. In the wild the bird lives for 5 to 9 years.