Ruby Throated Hummingbird (All about the R. T. Hummingbird)

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most widely distributed and commonly recognized hummingbird in North America. It is the only hummingbird species to regularly breed in the eastern United States and its colorful green and red plumage is instantly familiar to many birders. Despite its familiarity, however, there are a lot more facts about this member of the Trochilidae bird family that surprise even experienced birders and hummingbird lovers.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Identification.
The ruby-throated hummingbird is easy to identify by range, but in areas where this bird does overlap with other hummingbird species or where vagrant sightings are possible, birders should be familiar with the key field marks and characteristics that make this hummer distinct. A hummingbird's bill is its most instantly recognizable feature, and the long, needle-like black bill of the ruby-throat has a very slight downward curve, and females have slightly longer bills than males.
Males have a black face and a bright red or red-orange iridescent throat, though the throat may appear dark or dull in poor light. The chin and throat are white, and the chest is gray-white with a vest-like look. Upperparts and head are bright green, and the wings and forked tail are darker green-black.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are not commonly vocal but do have a high pitched, sharp chatter and sharp, high “pips” they will use when threatened or during courtship displays. Chase calls have a buzzy quality. A moderate hum sound is also generated by the wings in flight but may not be heard unless the birds are very close.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Habitat and Distribution.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are common summer visitors in the eastern half of the United States as well as southeastern and south-central Canada. The birds can be found in deciduous forests, parks, gardens, and yards, particularly areas with colorful flowerbeds and flowering hedges.
Behavior.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are strongly attracted to red and orange colors, as are most hummingbirds, and will hold their tails still while hovering to feed. Both male and female birds will use acrobatic aerial displays to defend their roughly quarter-acre territory. These birds become more aggressive near food sources as they prepare for migration in late summer. When agitated, they may initiate dive displays to ward off intruders.
Diet and Feeding.
Like all hummingbirds, ruby-throats drink nectar and eat insects for protein. They may also sip at sap wells that woodpeckers have drilled and will pluck spiders from their webs. These hummers happily visit nectar feeders as well as hummingbird gardens that are planted with nectar-rich flowers from spring through fall.
Nesting.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are solitary birds that only come together in pairs to mate after males perform courtship displays that include large arcs with buzzing at the lowest point. These hummingbirds are polygamous, and males may mate with several females. Each female parent will build her thick cup-shaped nest lined with fine plant fibers or down and trimmed with moss and lichens for camouflage, placed 5-20 feet above the ground.
Eggs and Young.
A female ruby-throated hummingbird will produce 1-3 broods of 2 oval-shaped, plain white eggs each per year. She incubates the eggs for 10-16 days, and after the eggs have hatched, the female parent cares for the nestlings for 15-22 days until they are mature enough to leave the nest. Male ruby-throated hummingbird parents play no role in caring for the eggs or chicks.
Ruby-throats will occasionally hybridize with black-chinned hummingbirds where the ranges of the two species overlap.
Tips for Backyard Birders.
Hummingbirds are highly desirable backyard visitors. Ruby-throated hummingbirds can be attracted to nectar-producing flowers, particularly red blooms such as red columbine, bee balm, phlox, trumpet creeper, and lilies. Birders can also hang nectar feeders to offer additional food sources and limit the use of insecticides to give hummingbirds a healthy insect food supply. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are also attracted to active water sources, such as misters, drippers, and shallow fountains.
How to Find This Bird.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are not difficult to find within their range, and any yard with a clean, filled hummingbird feeder is likely to attract these thirsty birds. Visiting nature centers, butterfly gardens, and botanical gardens are other ways to easily see ruby-throated hummingbirds. Some research facilities and preserves may even offer opportunities for guests to participate in hummingbird banding activities for up close encounters with ruby-throats.
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[@theun-doing1225]

Who else besides me loves these amazing little wonders of life?

[@whamazinganimals]

I also. Thanks for your commenting & sorry for delay response. I'm happy to get your attention in my content. You can browse my channel here:( bit.ly/2WiA3Pm ) to enjoy your time by watching other natural content and you can share with your friends. Please stay home, stay safe.

[@rosesalazar1218]

Im trying to learn as much as I possible can we have a hummingbird nest in our tree! Lots of hummingbird activity going on every day there’s 2 hummingbirds in and out of the nest and 1 chick!

[@phyllisjulian7101]

Been watching these little rascals for about 20 years when the rubythroat migrated across my house. I took photos and videos, and I had 4 feeders with six or eight seats each and 2-3 bills stuck in each port on every feeder all at the same time!!! I was refilling the feeders 3 times a day, which will give you an idea of how many birds and how much nectar was being consumed. it was like standing in the middle of a beehive when I was making movies. Have been obsessed ever since. Nothing more beautiful and spectacular!

[@ericclift1773]

My wife and I put three feeders out this year. We have a male and a female ruby throat flying and nesting in an oleander bush in our back yard. They are such fun birds to watch!!

[@GermanyTechno]

They’re so cute! 😍

[@angelalove7018]

Thank you for posting. You are very informative in a very short amount of time. Very well done.

[@leahmurphy59]

They are the most fascinating creatures to watch. I have about 5 this year, being my first year here in Dallas. I am obsessed to make their life easier.

[@LeticiaSPandaMcfly6]

One just flew in front of my mother and I, checked us out and then flew away. Super cute.

[@VictoriaMarch13]

I live in southern Alabama and the ruby throat is one of my regular hummers! They're so beautiful and truly amazing to watch!! ❤

[@rosesewell166]

I have one that come to my yard. Can’t get a good picture he fly away so fast. But his head is black and the red Trout . The other one I have I can get a good picture of them. I just enjoy them so much

[@whamazinganimals]

Thanks for sharing your sweet story 😌 about the 🐦.

[@johnnyc613]

Awesome tips on the particular flowers 🌺 they love…..

[@ronaldndam4188]

Cool bird

[@mollypitcher9380]

Very informative!

[@adrianaurrea8559]

Me encantan los colibries son tan lindos

[@whamazinganimals]

Thank you for commenting. I'm happy to get your attention in my content. You can browse my channel here:( bit.ly/2WiA3Pm ) to enjoy your time by watching other natural content. If you Like this, you can share with your friends.

[@khawlamakhlouf8954]

❤❤❤❤

[@hangmai1296]

Xinh dep ! Nho xiu ! De thuong ! Rat de thuong !😑😑😑

[@whamazinganimals]

Thanks.

[@hangmai1296]

@@whamazinganimals Thac mac khong biet Thanks with love la sao ay !😁😁😁

[@annecohen8927]

They are the most recognized species of hummingbirds. They are absolutely stunning with a sparkling ruby throat in a gorgeously red color. They are my favorite alongside other species of hummingbirds, along with the swallowtail yellow butterfly, the monarch, and the lady bug(not the asian beetles which mimic the lady bugs. I also love the cute jumping spiders too. I love the cardinals, which is the state bird of Illinois.

[@annecohen8927]

To me, the Ruby Throated and Allen’s hummingbird looks a bit similar but they are also different from each other.

[@luizantonio755]

É coisa mais linda que eu já vi éntre todo o reino animal é estás aves tão maravilhosas, eu particularmente gosto muito de assistir esses tipos de episódio dá natureza ok obrigado porestas informações destas maravilhas

[@whamazinganimals]

Thanks for your commenting. I'm happy to get your attention in my content. You can browse my channel here:( bit.ly/2WiA3Pm ) to enjoy your time by watching other natural content and you can share with your friends. Please stay home, stay safe.

[@karimali9719]

Sooooo. Lovley bird . So beautiful ...A big surprise he sleeps upside dowen like bat .......6:37 good shot the bird and wasp honybee .

[@whamazinganimals]

Thank you for commenting. I'm happy to get your attention in my content. You can browse my channel here:( bit.ly/2WiA3Pm ) to enjoy your time by watching other natural content. If you Like this, you can share with your friends.

[@shezadm6300]

Cool bird :)

[@daisymimi2704]

It flew in our house

[@whamazinganimals]

Thanks for commenting. 💐 I am happy to see your comment. 🙂 I hope you will brows my channel and enjoy more natural video. Don't forget to share this video with your friends. Thanks again.

[@Nmsss760]

I get so scared that they’ll want to come in they are so pretty

[@oscargarcia70yearsago36]

Same i thought it was a dragon fly

[@leahmurphy59]

So sad how short their life is considering how hard they have to work just to survive, and migrate.

[@Farstar5710]

Nice video

[@whamazinganimals]

Thank you for commenting. I'm happy to get your attention in my content. You can browse my channel here:( bit.ly/2WiA3Pm ) to enjoy your time by watching other natural content. If you Like this, you can share with your friends.

[@karenhostutler9933]

The very last image of the hummingbird feeder? That looks like a spot of mold just above the waterline.

[@Salmiyaguy1]

this was informative but it was really just a wikipedia read versus providing personal insight and experiences.

[@realtalk5329]

I just saw a bird that could hover like a humming bird and had an iridescent red mohawk that it could flap up at me. When it first came out it looked like a laser coming out of his head ha. Does anyone know what kind of bird this is?

[@KimberlyGreen]

It might be the "Anna's Hummingbird" if you live on the West Coast of the US. Search on AllAboutBirds and see if the pictures resemble what you saw.

[@realtalk5329]

@@KimberlyGreen I do live on the west coast! OK I'll check thank you!

[@realtalk5329]

@@KimberlyGreen I don't think it was. I didn't see any pictures or descriptions of the iridescent red mohawk did u? I can't for sure remember the body color tho I wanna say brown was one of the colors... I do see hummingbirds come around my house too tho

[@realethanangell]

What’s the TTS voice?

[@whamazinganimals]

Sorry for the robot voice dear. Thanks for your interest in nature and apologize for not being able to respond immediately to your comment. Every single like, comment & share from you can increase our working stamina. So we are grateful to you. Humble request to subscribe if you don't subscribe yet, & browse channel to enjoy more. Try to stay safe.

[@sandymoonstone855]

HOW does the color change ? See it happen in my video🐤

[@whamazinganimals]

Thanks for your commenting. I'm happy to get your attention in my content. You can browse my channel here:( bit.ly/2WiA3Pm ) to enjoy your time by watching other natural content and you can share with your friends. Please stay home, stay safe.

[@f_r_e_d]

Ahh yes the ruby Throated is exactly what I was looking for

[@joygangmei3637]

It is found in the northeastern part of India.

[@whamazinganimals]

Really it is!!! Oh! It's amazing. Thanks for your information sharing.🙂

[@daemonhat]

@@whamazinganimals there are no true hummingbirds outside of the western hemisphere. any true hummingbirds you might see in europe, asia, africa, australia and india have escaped captivity.

[@kcass72]

We call them buzzle birds 👍🏻😂

[@OneBlueFroggy]

How could it possibly be 33.75 inches long ? That is almost 3 feet ! Also a wing span of 44.5 inches is almost 4 feet ! Get your facts straight !

[@whamazinganimals]

I will check that and will try to solve the problem if any there. Thanks for your correction. Thanks for your commenting. I'm happy to get your attention in my content. You can browse my channel here:( bit.ly/2WiA3Pm ) to enjoy your time by watching other natural content and you can share with your friends. Please stay home, stay safe.

[@daemonhat]

it sounded like text to speech. probably meant 3 to 3.75" and 4 to 4.5"

[@pjd2709]

This feeder needs a good clean, look at the black mold on it everywhere......... And the liquid looks like it needs changing as it is cloudy..... Disappointed in this video.