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Hummingbird (Ruby-throated)

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Archilochus colubris
Hummingbird (Ruby-throated)

Range

They spend the winter in southern Mexico and Central America. In summer, they breed in from central Canada south through the eastern half of the U.S.

Habitat

They live in woods, deciduous forests, orchards and gardens. In the winter, they also live in tropical forests.

Body Traits

They are tiny birds with a metallic green head and back, a pale chest and belly and a bright, red throat. They have a long, slender bill for nectar collecting. Females are duller colored with a white throat.

Habits

They hover near tubular flowers collecting nectar.

Diet

They eat mostly nectar, but also small insects and drink from feeders.

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School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

They make an open-cup nest of plant matter, spider webs and lichens, perched on a small tree branch. The female lays 1-3, tiny white eggs.

Hummingbird (Ruby-throated)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Archilochus
Species: A. colubris

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