Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Common Name

Scientific Name

Archilochus colubris

Length

3 3/4"

Weight

Weight can range from 2 to 6 g (0.071 to 0.21 oz), with males averaging 3.4 g (0.12 oz) and the slightly larger female averaging 3.8 g (0.13 oz)

Range

The only hummingbird found consistently all over the Eastern U.S. and Canada.

Ruby-throats gather in Florida, Louisiana and along the South Texas coast in September in preparation for the final push to the south, either over the Gulf of Mexico or via an overland route through Mexico.

First arrivals in the spring, usually males, are back in Texas and Louisiana in late February to mid-March. In more northern states and Canadian provinces, first arrivals are not until April or May.

While most will migrate to Mexico and further south, some Ruby-throats do spend the winter along the U.S. Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida, and some along the southern Atlantic coastal regions.

Lifespan of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The average life span is estimated by experts to be 3 - 5 years. Most deaths occur in the first year of life. The record age of a banded ruby-throated hummingbird is 6 years, 11 months.

Characteristics and Identification

Very rare forms of Albino and white Leucistic Ruby-throated Hummingbirds do exist.

The Ruby-throated and Broad-tailed are similar in many ways. But they occupy separate ranges, Ruby-throats in the Eastern US and Broad-tails in the Western US.

And the red gorget of the male Ruby-throat can appear black in certain light and at certain angles, as seen in the comparison photos below.



The "classic" view (left) of the adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird features a beautiful ruby, or red, gorget (throat). Yet a quick turn of the head, or a change of the angle/intensity of the lighting, can change the gorget to black (right)! The feathers of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird contain no pigment. So in bright light it appears an iridescent red, while in poor light the gorget can appear black. The black gorget can make some nature lovers assume they are seeing a Black-chinned Hummingbird. When seeing a hummingbird like this, be sure to check normal species range maps to see what type of bird typically appears in your area (see map below).

Male and female Ruby-throated hummingbird identification

The adult male has a brilliant ruby red throat (gorget), black chin, and a deeply notched, forked tail. Males use a repeating "pendulum" arch of flight to attract females.

The female's throat is white, and immature males are similar in color to the female. The female body is slender, with a blunt, rounded tail with white corners. When perched, the tail is slightly longer than the folded wingtips.

Male and female Ruby-throated hummingbird side-by-side comparison

Map showing the approximate breeding ranges of four major hummingbird species in North America: Rufous, Anna's, Black-chinned and Ruby-throated

Comparison of the Broad-tailed, Ruby-throated and Black-chinned hummingbirds

Included below is a map showing the average spring migration arrival dates for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in North America. Arrival dates vary from year to year and from location to location, depending on a number of weather-related conditions and other environmental factors.
Map showing the average spring migration arrival dates for Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds in North America