Ruby Throated Hummingbird Nesting Season

Hundreds of kinds of hummingbirds nest in the american tropics and more than a dozen in the western u s but east of the great plains there is only the ruby throat.

Ruby throated hummingbird nesting season.

Of all hummingbirds in the united states this species has the largest breeding range. Hovering in front of a flower to sip nectar it beats its wings more than 50 times per second. Unlike some other birds the duties of creating the nest incubation and feeding the chicks are entirely up to the female ruby throated hummingbird. In fact it s the only one that breeds east of the mississippi river.

To get there from their north american. Put out your hummingbird feeders in alabama by the first week of march. A flash of green and red the ruby throated hummingbird is eastern north america s sole breeding hummingbird. Juveniles and non breeding birds look similar to.

There it is fairly common in summer in open woods and gardens. To reach these eastern breeding grounds the ruby throated hummingbird takes a perilous route of flying over 500 miles non stop over the gulf of mexico. If none are available she alone builds a new nest in about 6 to 10 days. The cup shaped nest is usually only about 1 2 inches 2 5 5 cm high and 1 5 inches 3 8 cm wide.

Nesting habits of the ruby throated hummingbird once mating is complete the male moves on while the female begins nest building in earnest. Ruby throated hummingbirds are iridescent green with white bellies. The ruby throated hummingbird is migratory spending. Female ruby throated hummingbird may reuse old nests for several seasons and repair them annually.

Feeders and flower gardens are great ways to attract these birds and some people turn their yards into buzzing clouds of hummingbirds each summer. Females in contrast have a grayish throat with white underparts and green coloring on the upper body. The ruby throated hummingbird is one of the most commonly found hummingbirds of the united states. Impressive migrants despite their small size some ruby throats may.

Ruby throated hummingbirds are largely solitary outside of the breeding season. A few ruby throated hummingbirds rufous hummingbirds and black chinned hummingbirds winter rarely but regularly in alabama. Ruby throated hummingbirds winter in mexico and central america. Their common name refers to the brilliant reddish orange coloring on the throat of mature males during the breeding season.

Ruby throated hummingbirds arrive in alabama about the 2nd week of march and depart alabama about the 1st week of november. As soon as mating is over the female ruby throated hummingbird has little to do with the male or vice versa she selects a suitable place for her nest often atop a small downward slanting branch overhanging an open area or stream but sometimes on a large horizontal limb and then spends many hours collecting spider webs and plant parts that she weaves into a small.