Look at this little friend. He stopped at my feeder to bulk up for his solo flight to the Yucatan. Unfortunately the light wasn't right to see the flash of ruby red at his throat.
"Nectar Ninja: Defender of the Sweet Oasis" - Copilot
This is a female ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), although, rufus humming bird is a possibility as well. But I know I know that there is a male ruby-throated hummingbird around and it being spring and all, well …
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do you know any interesting facts on ruby throated hummingbirds? Since they’re the only hummingbird types in some areas they can be seen as a bit basic by some
Absolutely! Ruby throated hummingbirds are gorgeous, and they're the only hummingbird native to my home state of Illinois.
Hummingbirds are among the smallest birds in the world, and Archilochus colubris is no exception; they weigh only 5 g (0.2 oz), which is less than a nickel! Between 25-30% of that weight is their pectoral muscles, which is what allows them to beat their wings rapidly-- 53 times per second! They can also travel great distances; each year they fly over 800 km (500 miles) from the American midwest to the Guly of Mexico where they stay for the winter.
Despite their small size, these hummingbirds have big appetites. Individuals have to consume half their body weight in sugar every day, and can eat over 1,000 insects to get some extra mid-air protein. All that sugar keeps their heart pumping at about 1,200 beats per minute.
(Image: A ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) in mid-flight by Randy Mitchell)
science/biology side of tumblr does anyone know what these ruby throated hummingbirds are doing? are they courting or are they trying to macho each other out of the territory of the feeder?