rubythroated

Rubythroated hummingbird, often written ruby-throated, is a small hummingbird native to North America. Its scientific name is Archilochus colubris. The adult male has an iridescent ruby-red throat patch, known as a gorget, that gleams in bright light. Females and juveniles lack the gorget and are generally green on the back with gray-brown underparts.

The species measures about 7.5 to 9 centimeters in length and weighs around 3 grams. It has a rapid wingbeat, roughly 50 to 60 times per second, and is capable of hovering, and flying forward, backward, and sideways with high agility. Its diet consists mainly of nectar from flowers, supplemented by small insects and spiders for protein. In urban and suburban areas, it may visit feeders stocked with sugar water.

Rubythroated hummingbirds breed across eastern North America, from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and migrate to wintering grounds in southern Mexico and Central America. They inhabit open woodlands, forest edges, orchards, gardens, and other areas with abundant flowering plants. During migration, some individuals cross the Gulf of Mexico in a non-stop flight of up to several hundred miles.

Reproduction is female-driven: the female builds a small cup nest from plant fibers and spider silk, typically placed on a branch. She lays two eggs, incubates them for about 12 to 16 days, and fledging occurs roughly 18 to 22 days after hatching.

Conservation status, per the IUCN, is Least Concern. The species maintains a broad range and a generally stable population, though local declines can occur due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and collisions with windows.