Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Overview

A tiny hummingbird with an iridescent red throat, migrating across the Gulf of Mexico.

History & Origin

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird occurs naturally in North America. This group brings together nightjars, swifts and hummingbirds — aerial and often crepuscular or nocturnal birds found across the Americas, Eurasia, Africa and Australia, from rainforest to desert.

Appearance & Size

It is a Tiny (7-9cm) bird. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds, with iridescent plumage and rotary wings; swifts are sickle-winged aerialists; nightjars are camouflaged, large-eyed nocturnal hunters.

Temperament & Behavior

Swifts and hummingbirds are almost perpetually in flight and rarely settle; hummingbirds are fiercely territorial and dazzlingly agile, while nightjars are cryptic and active at dusk.

Care & Husbandry

Hummingbirds live on nectar and small insects; swifts and nightjars catch insects on the wing, the former by day, the latter at night. These are specialist birds: hummingbirds need nectar feeders and tiny live prey, swifts need huge aerial space, and nightjars need dim, insect-rich enclosures. They are not practical companion birds.

Health & Lifespan

In the wild their survival hinges on insect abundance and flowering; in care, metabolic disease, starvation and trauma are risks. Hummingbirds can live 5-9 years, swifts and nightjars less in captivity.

Popularity & Recognition

Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards and are among the smallest vertebrates; their co-evolution with flowers is a textbook example of mutualism.