Ruby-throated Hummingbird
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Birds (Aves)
- Dietary Niche: Omnivore (Floral nectar, tree sap, tiny insects)
- Max Speed: 48 km/h (30 mph) flight; 80 km/h dive
- Adult Weight: 3 - 3.5 grams (0.11 - 0.12 oz)
- Typical Lifespan: 3 - 5 years
- Primary Habitat: Deciduous forests, orchards, flowering meadows, gardens
- Native Region: North America (Eastern US and Canada), wintering in Central America
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Apodiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae |
| Genus | Archilochus |
| Species Binomial | Archilochus colubris |
📖 1. Species Overview
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a dazzling avian marvel of speed and precision. Weighing less than a nickel, this tiny bird can beat its wings up to 53 times per second, fly upside down, hover in place, and embark on a non-stop 500-mile migration across the Gulf of Mexico.
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Emerald green back and crown with a bright ruby-red iridescent throat gorget on adult males that flashes brilliantly in direct sunlight. Long needle-like bill designed to probe deep into trumpet flowers.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Inhabits woodland edges and suburban gardens. Solitary and highly territorial over floral food patches. Famous for figure-eight wing beats enabling 360-degree aerial agility.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Feeds on carbohydrate-rich nectar from red and orange tubular flowers and catches small gnats, fruit flies, and aphids in mid-air to fulfill protein requirements.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Females construct walnut-sized nests made of thistle down and spider silk, laying two tiny pea-sized white eggs.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Least Concern with stable populations across eastern North America.
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- Hummingbirds are the only birds in the world capable of flying backwards and upside down.
- Their hearts beat over 1,200 times per minute during active flight.
- They make a non-stop 20-hour flight across the 500-mile Gulf of Mexico during migration without stopping to rest or eat.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is scientifically classified as Archilochus colubris. It belongs to the genus Archilochus within the family Trochilidae, class Aves, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds inhabit Deciduous forests, orchards, flowering meadows, gardens. Their native geographic range primarily spans North America (Eastern US and Canada), wintering in Central America.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is classified as a Omnivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Deciduous forests, orchards, flowering meadows, gardens.
A Ruby-throated Hummingbird can achieve top speeds of 48 km/h (30 mph) flight; 80 km/h dive and weighs approximately 3 - 3.5 grams (0.11 - 0.12 oz). Its expected natural lifespan is 3 - 5 years.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is currently designated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Species Profile."
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