Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Known as the jewel of the garden, and North America's most common hummingbird, this tiny, vibrant bird, can sip nectar from over 1,000 flowers a day.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a tiny, iridescent green bird with a slender black bill and a forked tail. Males display a brilliant ruby-red throat patch, which can appear black in poor light.

Females and juveniles lack the red throat, instead showing a white throat and underparts. Both sexes have grayish-white flanks and a slightly darker forked tail with white tips on the outer feathers.

Size

Length

7cm to 9cm

Wingspan

8cm to 11cm

Weight

2g to 6g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Green Red

Secondary Colour

White Grey

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Primary Colour (Female)

Green

Secondary Colour (Female)

White Grey

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are found in eastern North America, from central Canada to the Gulf Coast. They inhabit deciduous and pine forests, orchards, gardens, and urban areas with flowering plants.

During winter, they migrate to Central America and the Caribbean. In the United States, they are common from spring to early fall, with some individuals overwintering in the southern coastal areas.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons