Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Migration
Despite of it's tiny size, the ruby- throated hummingbird migrates more than 1.850 miles from the eastern United states, crossing 600 miles of the gulf of mexico, to spend the winder in Central America. The ruby-throats retrun to its breeding ground is timed according to location. The birds that live in the southern part of the United Startes begin their return migreation as early as Febuary. The birds that live further noth time their return to coincide with the flowering of their food plants.

Food and Feeding

The hummmingbird's agility in flight lets it flit from flower to flower like an insect. Although it tends to feed from red flowers, at lest 31 different plants have flowers which attract the ruby-throated hummingbird. They include honeysuckle, petunias, nasturtiums, and lilacs. Flying from flower to flower, the hummingbird polllinates the plants it feeds on. Because it can hover for long periods of time, the hummingbird can effectively suck out all the nectar it needs from a flower with its long, fine bill. Although nectar is its main food, it will also eat some insects and spiders. The hummingbird is not attracted to regular bird feeders, but it will feed on red-colored sugarwater offered from a drip tube.



=Breeding=

Like many migrating birds, the male ruby-throated hummingbird arrives at the breeding area before the female. There, he establishes his territory. When the female appears the male makes a courtship gesture by flying back and forth in a perfect arc. Two eggs are laid sometime between Martch and July in a nest situated high up in a tree. The female makes the nest with lichen and other soft plants. The male talkes no part in the rearing of the yound and may go off to find another mate. Young are fledged in 3-4 weeks, and some birds go on to raise a second brood.



Fun Facts

 * The ruby-throated hummingbird had the smallest number of featehrs ever counted on any bird.


 * The humming bird needs to eat twice its body wight in food every day.


 * Each humminbird species makes a different humming sound, depending on the speed of its wing beats.

Size
Lenghth: 4 in.

Wingspan: 5 in.

Weight: 1/10 oz.