The Ruby Throated Hummingbirds have been visiting our feeders off and on all summer. When we had spotted them four days in a row I decided they must be regular visiters and that I just hadn't been spotting them regularily. The photo above is a female but I have seen both females and males at my feeder.

"Peterson Field Guides Eastern Birds" by Roger Tory Peterson, describes Ruby Throated Hummingbird as follows:

HUMMINGBIRDS: Family Trochilidae. The smallest birds. Usually iridescent, with needlelike bills for sipping nectar. Jewel-like throat feathers, or gorgets, adorn adult males of most species. The wing motion is so rapid that the wings appear blurred. Hover when feeding. Pugnacious. Food: Nectar of flowers (red flowers are favored); aphids, other small insects, spiders. Range: W. Hemisphere; majority in tropics.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird: Archilochus colubris 3 - 3 3/4" (8 - 9 cm) See family description (above). The male Ruby-throat has a glowing fiery-red throat, iridescent green back, forked tail. The female lacks red throat; has a blunt tail with white spots.

Voice: Male in aerial display swings like a pendulum in a wide arc, each swing accompanied by a hum. Notes, high, squeaky.

Range: S. Canada to Gulf states. Winters Mexico, Cen. America. Habitat: Flowers, gardens, wood edges.

Listen to the song of the Rufous Hummingbird. NOTE: This is not the Ruby Throated Hummingbird but is a very similir bird. (Sounds courtesy of 'The Sonds of Nature' by Doug Von Gausig.)


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