Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

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

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, first arrivals are not until April or May.

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.

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

The female's throat is white, and immatures are similar in color to the female. The female body is slender, with a blunt, rounded tail with white corners.

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

The Ruby-throated and Black-chinned hummingbirds are very similar, but have separate ranges. The Ruby-throated has a straight beak, while the Black-chinned is curved. And the red gorget of the Ruby-throat can appear black in certain light and at certain angles.

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

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird feeding on a pink California Giant Zinna (August 12, 2015)