View range map of Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird which breeds in eastern North America. This tiny bird (length 3.5") performs an epic migration across the Gulf of Mexico to its wintering grounds in South America. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a nectar specialist. It feeds on flower nectar, small insects which it captures in flight or by gleaning and sap wells. The use of sap wells during the breeding season, has led to a close association between this species and the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird will come readily to nectar feeders to drink sugar water. Find out how to feed Hummingbirds safely. Red tubular flowers are a particular favorite of this species, and are thought to have co-evolved with hummingbirds. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is an important pollinator, depositing ten times as much pollen as a bee does at each visit. The female will begin nest construction when she arrives on the breeding grounds. She spends 6-10 days building the tiny (2" diameter) nest using dandelion, thistle down and spiders webs. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are polygynous, and form no pair bond. After mating the male plays no part in the nesting and raising of the young. The female lays two eggs which she incubates for 12-14 days beginning immediately after the first egg is laid. The chicks hatch asynchronously after which she will feed and care for them until they fledge at approximately 20 days of age. This species is threatened by predation by domestic cats because it frequents back yards across its range. Domestic cats are responsible for the deaths of an astonishing one billion song birds every year in North America, that's three million every day. This is the second greatest cause of declining numbers of song birds after habitat loss. Learn how cat owners can help this species and other back yard birds here.