Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
LCLeast Concern
- Length
- 7–9 cm
- Family
- Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
- Order
- Apodiformes
Best months to see it
- JanJanuary: Poor or no data
- FebFebruary: Poor or no data
- MarMarch: Poor or no data
- AprApril: Poor or no data
- MayMay: Best
- JunJune: Best
- JulJuly: Best
- AugAugust: Best
- SepSeptember: Best
- OctOctober: Poor or no data
- NovNovember: Poor or no data
- DecDecember: Poor or no data
BestGoodFair
Overview
The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a species of hummingbird that generally spends the winter in Central America, Mexico, and Florida, and migrates to Canada and other parts of Eastern North America for the summer to breed. It is the most common hummingbird in eastern North America, having population estimates of about 35 million in 2021.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Nectar and tiny insects.
How to identify it
- Tiny, with an emerald-green back
- Male has a glowing ruby-red throat
- Many fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico on migration
Voice
Twittering chips and a humming of wings.
Where to see it
- High Island, Texas (Apr and Sep)
- Eastern North American gardens
Destination guides featuring this bird
Similar species
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- male has a black-and-violet throat; western North America
Range and habitat
Breeds eastern Canada and USA; winters Mexico to Panama.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Ruby-throated hummingbird
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
