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Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) wildlife photograph

Field guide · common

Hummingbird

Nature's helicopter, a jewel-sized bird that hovers on blurred wings and sips nectar with a tongue that flickers 15 times per second.

Least Concern

Archilochus colubris

Overview

Hummingbirds are the only birds that can truly fly backwards, their wings rotate in a figure-eight pattern, beating up to 80 times per second. The ruby-throated hummingbird, the only species that breeds east of the Mississippi, weighs less than a nickel yet migrates across the Gulf of Mexico nonstop.

At feeders and trumpet flowers, hummingbirds are fearless and fast, emerald backs flashing, throats blazing red in sunlight, chirping and chasing rivals with astonishing aggression for something so small.

Habitat

  • Garden
  • Woodland edge
  • Meadow

Gardens, meadows, and woodland edges across the Americas hold hummingbirds. Ruby-throated hummingbirds reach the eastern US and Canada in summer, visiting bee balm, salvia, and sugar-water feeders before migrating south to Central America.

Countries found

Field notes

Field scale for the Hummingbird: length around 7-9 cm; weight 2-6 g. Typical lifespan: Around 3-5 years in the wild; some banded birds exceed 9 years.

When you are scanning habitat, prioritise garden, woodland edge, and meadow. Those settings are where a clean look and a usable photo are most likely.

Quick ID anchor: Tiny jewel-like bird: metallic green upperparts; adult males have a brilliant ruby-red throat that can look black in shade. Needle-like bill and blurred wingbeats in hover. Confirm with behaviour and habitat before you log the discovery.

Diet

Ruby-throated hummingbirds feed on floral nectar and small insects or spiders for protein. Hover at tubular flowers and sugar-water feeders, licking nectar with a rapid tongue.

Behaviour

Territorial and aggressive around rich food sources despite tiny size. Hover with figure-eight wingbeats, can fly backwards, and migrate long distances including nonstop Gulf crossings.

How to identify

Tiny jewel-like bird: metallic green upperparts; adult males have a brilliant ruby-red throat that can look black in shade. Needle-like bill and blurred wingbeats in hover.

Interesting facts

  1. 01

    Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards.

  2. 02

    Their hearts can beat over 1,200 times per minute during flight.

  3. 03

    Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate 800 km nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico.

Conservation status

LC: Least Concern

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are Least Concern with stable populations. Habitat loss and climate change may affect migration timing, but backyard feeders support them widely.

Sources: IUCN Red List

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