Home / Guides / Bird Files / Apodiformes

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Upload Image
Archilochus colubris by dellrose
Upload Image
Order
Apodiformes
Family
Trochilidae
Genus
Archilochus
Species
colubris
Regional

This bird has been reportedly found in the following regions:

Albertville, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama

Mesa, Arizona

Queen Creek, Arizona

North Little Rock, Arkansas

Brookfield, Connecticut

New Milford, Connecticut

Windsor, Connecticut

Wilmington, Delaware

Bartow, Florida

Brooksville, Florida

Cocoa, Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Lutz, Florida

Micanopy, Florida

Milton, Florida

Ocala, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Palatka, Florida

Quincy, Florida

Titusville, Florida

Trenton, Florida

Webster, Florida

Zephyrhills, Florida

Atlanta, Georgia

Hazlehurst, Georgia

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Algonquin, Illinois

Aurora, Illinois

Cherry Valley, Illinois

Morton, Illinois

Rock Falls, Illinois

Westchester, Illinois

Coatesville, Indiana

New Palestine, Indiana

Schererville, Indiana

Indianola, Iowa

Yale, Iowa

Barbourville, Kentucky

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Ewing, Kentucky

Hebron, Kentucky

Shepherdsville, Kentucky

Waynesburg, Kentucky

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Ethel, Louisiana

Hammond, Louisiana

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Pearl River, Louisiana

Dixfield, Maine

Kingfield, Maine

Bishopville, Maryland

Olney, Maryland

Harwich Port, Massachusetts

Roslindale, Massachusetts

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Mattawan, Michigan

Paw Paw, Michigan

Remus, Michigan

Traverse City, Michigan

Albertville, Minnesota

Crosslake, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Florence, Mississippi

Maben, Mississippi

Marietta, Mississippi

Tupelo, Mississippi

Cole Camp, Missouri

Conway, Missouri

Jackson, Missouri

Saint Robert, Missouri

Beatrice, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska

Atkinson, New Hampshire

Warner, New Hampshire

Beachwood, New Jersey

Marlton, New Jersey

Woodstown, New Jersey

Croton On Hudson, New York

Himrod, New York

Livingston Manor, New York

Schenectady, New York

Staten Island, New York

Yonkers, New York

Beulaville, North Carolina

Cary, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina

Concord, North Carolina

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Gates, North Carolina

Swansboro, North Carolina

Trinity, North Carolina

Belfield, North Dakota

Dickinson, North Dakota

Medora, North Dakota

Athens, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio(2 reports)

Glenmont, Ohio

Hamilton, Ohio

Lebanon, Ohio

Mansfield, Ohio

North Ridgeville, Ohio

Oak Harbor, Ohio(2 reports)

Sandusky, Ohio

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Mill City, Oregon

Albion, Pennsylvania

Davidsville, Pennsylvania

Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Kintnersville, Pennsylvania

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Meshoppen, Pennsylvania

Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania

Whitehall, Pennsylvania

Warwick, Rhode Island

Camden, South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina

Georgetown, South Carolina

Lancaster, South Carolina

Starr, South Carolina

La Follette, Tennessee

Maryville, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Newport, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

Baytown, Texas

Belton, Texas

Cedar Creek, Texas

Corpus Christi, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Edinburg, Texas(2 reports)

Fort Worth, Texas(3 reports)

Houston, Texas

Iowa Park, Texas

Knippa, Texas

Magnolia, Texas

Mcallen, Texas

Mission, Texas

Portland, Texas

Red Oak, Texas

Rosenberg, Texas

Sheridan, Texas

Texas City, Texas

Weatherford, Texas

Brattleboro, Vermont

Ashburn, Virginia

Basye, Virginia

Edinburg, Virginia

Penhook, Virginia

Rocky Mount, Virginia

Walkerton, Virginia

Cathan, Washington

John Sam Lake, Washington

North Marysville, Washington

Priest Point, Washington

Shaker Church, Washington

Stimson Crossing, Washington

Weallup Lake, Washington

Petersburg, West Virginia

Iron River, Wisconsin

Pulaski, Wisconsin

Waukesha, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:
Post Comment
16 positives 3 neutrals 0 negative
Sort By:
R

Rickwebb

Downingtown, PA | July 2015 | Positive
I've seen this wonderful, quick little bird since youth at hummingbird feeders or at flowers. I remember one male feeding from the Scarlet Sage annuals planted in front of my parent's house in northeast Illinois. A female absolutely loves my annual flower called Black & Blue Sage or Anice-scented Sage, Salvia guarantica, I plant here in southeast Pennsylvania. They breed in the North in summer and then migrate way south in the winter.
b

bluesox

Humble, TX | June 2015 | Positive
In Zone 9A, they seem to like:

Lonicera sempervirens var. Major Wheeler (Coral honeysuckle)
Tecomaria capensis (Cape honesuckle)
Hamelia patens (Hummingbird bush or Firebush)
Kniphofia uvaria (Red hot poker or Torch lily)
Cuphea ignea var. David Verity (Cigar plant)
Justicia spicigera (Mexican honeysuckle)
Russelia equisetifolia (Firecracker plant)
Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican sunflower)
Penta lanceolata (Pentas)
Zinnia elegans (Zinnias)

They also like to pick tiny insects off Quercus virginiana (Live oak) and Helianthus maximilliani (Maximillian's sunflower)

Tiny flying insects are an important part of their diet and spider webs are an essential nest-building element.
... read more
c

coriaceous

ROSLINDALE, MA | May 2015 | Positive
The Aztecs' war god was represented in their art by a hummingbird, and after observing their behavior in a small densely planted garden I see why. Very pugnacious.

They're easy to attract with the right plants: tubular flowers in red or orange.

If you use a feeder, the syrup can spoil in as little as two days. Do the birds a favor and don't put one up unless you're prepared to keep it healthful through a rigorous cleaning routine.
F

FlyGalsMom

Staten Island, New York City, NY (Zone 6b) | September 2012 | Positive
We have at least 7 hummers having WWll dog fights over our feeders~ I don't know if there is more than 1 male since I only see one at a time but he is highly aggressive and sits in the branches where he can see several feeders @ once and zooms in when the others DARE to land on the feeder perches~I am assuming the rest are females and youngsters~ one has white on it's forehead, which I have not noticed in previous summers~ I put out more feeders to try and stop the male from being so selfish~ so now we have 2 on the west side of the house~2 on the east of the house and two in our backyard and four on each corner of our backyard deck~ I was hoping one for each bird would encourage them to live and let live LOL~ but that "boy" is indeed a handful. ;)
C

Chillybean

(Zone 5a) | August 2012 | Positive
So? Should I give them a negative rating for all that silly fighting they do? Nah. They are a cute little bird to have around, but it would be nice to have more than one at a time at the feeder.

The first time I heard one it about startled me out of my wits. I thought it was a monster wasp until I actually saw who it was.

We saw both male and female earlier in the year and now we have seen a juvenile male.
G

Goombarok

Newport, TN (Zone 6b) | October 2010 | Neutral
Sniff, sniff. Oct. 7 was the last day for our hummers. We'll have to wait until April, I'm afraid, to see them again. Newport TN, 37821.
j

jamiew

Montgomery, AL | July 2010 | Positive
Here in Montgomery they arrive in March and stay through November. We have between 5-10 each summer that fight each other for our 3 feeders. They zoom right over our heads in their chase. Sometimes 3 separate groups buzzing around after one another and it makes me think of WWII jet fighters. Their voices are pretty clicks, chattering at each other.
S

SaberLily

Winchester, VA (Zone 7a) | June 2010 | Positive
Though they are most easily attracted to red, the hummingbirds in our area seem to easily find purple flowers easily. I had planted catmint for our cats, and even though they had turned up their nose at it, the hummingbirds seem to love it.

Hostas are another favorite due to their tubular flowers, though not quite as attention-grabbing.
V

VaMtnDude

Basye, VA (Zone 6a) | May 2010 | Positive
These magnificent little dynamos are the only thing that could ever motivate me to do so much hard work gardening! I've been totally fascinated by them ever since I saw my first one as a teenager, and I always spend way too much money growing flowers to attract them each summer! I don't know anything that compares with the thrill of getting to see them up close and interacting with them. (See my profile pic.)
s

snowflakey

Ethel, LA | November 2009 | Positive
I've been feeding these llittle dynamos for years in several states I lived in. However, 2008 in Louisiana I thought they were off course in their migration we had so many in the fall. (Huricane Gustav had just passed over us). 2009 same thing, I had 4 feeders and filled them 2 times a day! We must be right in their southern migration path. Lasts for 2 weeks, then slows down to a10 or so and after a month they are gone again. We don't see this much activity in the spring.
b

birder17

Jackson, MO (Zone 6b) | October 2009 | Positive
Love this bird. So dainty yet aggressive. I had one show up here in MO. the week before Thanksgiving in 2007. The female came to our feeder every day. She was banded while here. I have lots of flowers for them to enjoy. They come here in April and leave about the first week in October. It's always a thrill to see them come in April.
S

Sceloporous

Lebanon, PA | September 2009 | Positive
I planted Lobelia cardinalis last fall...they love this plant. Had a male last July, followed by females later on. But they are territorial...will be planting more Lobelia cardinalis in a different location. Have also bought Penstemon pinifolius and Aquilegia caerulea "Red Hobbit." These plants just went into the ground last week. Will see what happens next year.
c

catbird31

Harwich Port, MA | May 2009 | Positive
Not having seen any listing for Ruby Throat Hummingbirds in New England I would like to add this area of the US to DG's database. We routinely feed hummers and are located on Cape Cod, MA. Although there were a few earlier sightings in our area, our first 2009 sighting was a male on May 2 with a female making an appearance a few day later. For NE and NY State info, nehummer.com is an excellent research-based site. Their Summer 2007 news includes photos and text of banding procedures done by certified banders. Enjoy!
D

DonJr

Webster, FL | March 2009 | Positive
They eat flies, which works great for us lol. Nectar is like immediate energy for them and easy to make for the feeders ( 4:1 ratio... 1 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar ). Some say to add red food color but we've read that it doesn't really atrract them too much more and may be bad for them. We love to watch them but they do tend to bicker amongst themselves ALOT so keep feeders somewhat separated.
M

Malus2006

Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) | February 2009 | Positive
had seen them feeding on beebalms
r

rmoran

Pearl River, LA | January 2009 | Neutral
It isn't often that you get this many at one time. They are warriors!!!
D

DebinSC

Georgetown, SC (Zone 8a) | January 2009 | Neutral
Male with red throat, female with white. Female with white tips to tail feathers. Female larger.

D

DMgardener

(Daniel) Mount Orab, OH (Zone 6b) | January 2009 | Positive
This is by far my favorite bird!!! This is the only Hummer that can be spotted in SW Ohio. They like feeding from the following flowers.

*Zinnias
*Salvia (ANY. They Love ALL sages!!)
*Nasturiums
*Iris
*Calendula
*Daylilly
*Lillies
* and Petunia
M

Mrs_Ed

Whiteside County, IL (Zone 5a) | December 2008 | Positive
These birds are a joy to watch. I am not lucky enough to have enticed them to my garden in the summer (yet). They usually arrive at the end of April for a week or so. I don't see them again until the end of August (until the beginning of October) during the fall migration.
Popular Plants
SEE ALL
Iris
Peppers
Hydrangeas
Hostas
Contribute to Dave’s Garden
Add a New Bird to the List
Featured
PLANT FILES
Tall Bearded Iris 'Rio'
BUG FILES
Mountain Katydid
(Acripeza reticulata)
BIRD FILES
Magellanic Penguin
(Spheniscus magellanicus)
Quick Links
View All Families
View All Genera
View All Species
Freeze/Frost Dates
PlantFiles FAQ
Plants with no Photos
Contribute to Dave’s Garden
Add a New Bird to the List
Featured
PLANT FILES
Tall Bearded Iris 'Rio'
BUG FILES
Mountain Katydid
(Acripeza reticulata)
BIRD FILES
Magellanic Penguin
(Spheniscus magellanicus)