Birds diurnal

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a shimmering emerald marvel that defies the limits of avian flight. Watch as these tiny powerhouses migrate thousands of miles to bring a flash of iridescent color to your backyard garden.

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Quick Identification

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Size

7-9 cm (2.8-3.5 in) length, 8-11 cm (3.1-4.3 in) wingspan, 2-6 g (0.1-0.2 oz) weight

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Colors

Metallic emerald green on the back and crown with white underparts; males have a brilliant iridescent ruby-red throat (gorget) and a dark forked tail; females have a white throat and white-tipped outer tail feathers.

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Key Features

Iridescent emerald-green back and crown
Brilliant ruby-red throat patch on males (may appear black in low light)
Long, slender, needle-like black bill
Tiny body with wings that move in a figure-eight pattern
White-tipped tail feathers on females and juveniles

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6-9 AM and 5-8 PM (most active at dawn and dusk)

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Season April-September (Migration peaks in May and August)

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Diet Primarily floral nectar and tree sap, supplemented by small insects and spiders for essential protein.

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Habitat Deciduous forests, forest edges, orchards, meadows, and suburban gardens with abundant flowers.

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Behavior

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the quintessential 'backyard jewels' of the East, known for their incredible aerial agility and high-energy lifestyle. They are solitary and fiercely territorial, often seen dive-bombing other hummingbirds or even large insects that venture too close to their favorite nectar source. Despite their tiny size, they are remarkably bold and will often hover just a few feet away from humans to investigate red clothing or garden tools.

These birds are masters of flight, capable of hovering mid-air, flying backwards, and even upside down for brief moments. Their metabolism is so high that they must consume more than their body weight in nectar and insects daily. To survive cold nights or periods of food scarcity, they can enter a state of torpor—a deep sleep where their heart rate and body temperature drop significantly to conserve energy.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of these fast-moving birds, placement is everything. Position your camera approximately 12 to 18 inches away from a nectar feeder or a cluster of tubular red flowers like Bee Balm or Trumpet Vine. Since hummingbirds follow predictable flight paths, aiming your lens at a favorite 'perch' branch near a feeding station can provide stable, non-hovering shots that reveal incredible feather detail. Set your camera at chest height to get an eye-level perspective, which creates a much more intimate and professional look than shooting from below.

Lighting is the secret to capturing the male's namesake 'ruby' throat. Iridescence is directional; if the sun is behind the bird, the throat will look black. Position your camera so the sun is behind the lens or hitting the bird from the side. This ensures that as the hummingbird turns its head, the light hits the microscopic throat platelets at the correct angle to 'flash' brilliant red for the camera. Use the highest frame rate your camera supports (60fps or higher) to slow down their rapid wing beats during playback.

If you are using a motion-activated camera, set the sensitivity to high and the trigger speed to its fastest setting. Hummingbirds are so fast they can enter and leave a frame in less than a second. If your camera allows for 'pre-roll' or 'pre-trigger' recording, enable it. This ensures you catch the approach rather than just a tail disappearing from the shot. For backyard setups, try to keep the background clean and out of focus to make the vibrant green and red of the bird pop against the scenery.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Very similar in appearance, but the male has a purple band at the base of a black throat, and they are primarily found in the Western US.

Rufous Hummingbird

Distinguished by its bright orange-brown (rufous) plumage on the back and sides, whereas the Ruby-throated is almost entirely green on its back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. They feed heavily at dawn to replenish energy lost overnight and again at dusk to fuel up for the night, though they will visit feeders throughout the day.

Plant native tubular flowers like Salvia, Honeysuckle, and Cardinal Flower. You can also hang nectar feeders filled with a 4:1 ratio of water to plain white sugar. Avoid using red dye, as it is unnecessary and potentially harmful to the birds.

While they are famous for drinking nectar, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds also eat thousands of tiny insects and spiders. This protein is essential, especially during the nesting season for growing chicks and before migration.

Yes, they are very common in suburban areas throughout Eastern North America, provided there are flowers or feeders available. They adapt well to human-modified landscapes and often return to the exact same backyard year after year.

In the East, they are usually the only hummingbird present. To tell males from females, look for the red throat; females have a plain white throat. Compared to the western Black-chinned Hummingbird, the Ruby-throated has a greener crown and different wing shape.

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