Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a common hummingbird found in 15 countries, weighing about 3 g. The ruby-throated hummingbird is a species of hummingbird that generally spends the winter in Central America, Mexico, and Florida, and migrates to Canada and other parts of Eastern North America for the summer to breed.
About the Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird is a species of hummingbird that generally spends the winter in Central America, Mexico, and Florida, and migrates to Canada and other parts of Eastern North America for the summer to breed. It is the most common hummingbird in eastern North America, having population estimates of about 35 million in 2021.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This hummingbird is from 7 to 9 cm (2.8 to 3.5 in) long and has an 8 to 11 cm (3.1 to 4.3 in) wingspan. Weight can range from 2 to 6 g (0.071 to 0.212 oz), with males averaging 3.4 g (0.12 oz) against the slightly larger female which averages 3.8 g (0.13 oz). Adults are metallic green above and grayish white below, with near-black wings. Their bill, at up to 2 cm (0.79 in), is long, straight, and slender. Hummingbird legs are short and have feet with three toes pointing forward and one backward – the hallux. Voice: The vocalizations of ruby-throated hummingbirds are rapid, squeaky chirps, which are used primarily for threats. For example, males may vocalize to warn another male that has entered his territory. During the courtship displays, the male makes a rapid tik-tik tik-tik tik-tik sound with his wings. The sound is produced both during the shuttle display, at each end of the side-to-side flight.
What the Ruby-throated Hummingbird sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
- This hummingbird is from 7 to 9 cm (2.8 to 3.5 in) long and has an 8 to 11 cm (3.1 to 4.3 in) wingspan. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
- The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a tiny sized bird weighing about 3 g.
- Where can you see a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
- The Ruby-throated Hummingbird occurs in 15 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
- What does a Ruby-throated Hummingbird sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
- The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is most easily confused with the Black-chinned Hummingbird.
- Is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird endangered?
- The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Ruby-throated Hummingbird for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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