Ruby-throated Hummingbird | NEW ENGLAND GARDEN CLUBS

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds in the North Eastern United States. They migrate from Mexico and Central America where they spend the winter months. Some hummingbirds may fly nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico during these winter migrations. The migration takes place from March through May.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are one of the smallest birds, but are one of the most enduring fliers. They are capable of flapping their wings over 50 times a second, and are the only birds that can fly backwards.

The male Ruby-throated Hummingbird has an iridescent red throat, a metallic green back and a long black beak. The adult male’s tail feathers are dark, pointed and forked
The female Ruby-throated Hummingbird has a dull white throat and a metallic green back. The female’s tail is fan-shaped with rounded feathers that have white tips on the outer edge
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds measure 3-4 inches long from beak to tail. Typically, the adult females are larger than adult males
The males usually arrive a week or so before the females in order to establish territory before attracting a female. Males are very territorial and will chase away any other males that they encounter
The breeding male Ruby-throated Hummingbird performs a pendulum-arcing motion to attract a female. The arc is between 3 and 30 feet, and quite impressive usually ending in a successful courtship
Male and female interaction
A female will usually lay 2-3 eggs, the size of small jelly beans. The nest consists of soft materials like lichen, moss, willows and other plant materials, and sometimes even dryer lint and cotton. The female glues these materials together with spider silk
The female hummingbird does all the nest building and rearing of the young with no help from the male. The eggs take about two weeks to incubate. The female will stay on the nest about 70% of the time, using the rest of the time to look for food
The nesting phase lasts anywhere from two weeks to one month. Food consists mostly of tiny insects, such as spiders and gnats
The nest is amazingly camouflaged, high off the ground and sheltered from the wind
Fledgling hummingbirds
Hummingbird feeders filled with a mixture of one part sugar and 4 parts water will attract the birds, as well as help keep their energy level high. Feeders should be cleaned often. Red food coloring is not needed
Migration map for the Eastern United States