Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Close
your eyes and imagine a creature with proportionally the largest
brain and wing muscles in the world; one that can fly backwards
and upside down, and has a tongue as long its body. Now open
your eyes. What did you imagination conjure up – a pterodactyl
or some exotic tropical species yet to be discovered? How about
a hummingbird!?
Rudy-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) are one of
four species of hummers known to visit Oklahoma (the other three
species include the black-chinned, rufous and broad-tailed).
There are at least 319 species in the eastern half of the United
States.
Measuring 3-3/4 inches and weighing only 2.5 to 3.5 grams, the
ruby-throated is Oklahoma’s smallest bird. What it lacks in
size, it makes up for in character. Its flying agility is
matched by no other in the animal kingdom and its chief
competitor for food is not other birds, but nectar-loving
insects.
The ruby-throated hummingbird’s metabolic rate (the rate at
which it uses energy) is the highest of any warm-blooded
vertebrate except the shrew. They must consume over half their
weight in sugars each day to fuel this high metabolism, creating
an apparent, often-humorous sugar high not unlike that of a
six-year-old after Halloween trick-or-treating. In fact, a hyper
hummer’s wings beat 70 times a second while hovering and up to
200 times a second during the diving, erratic flights of
courtship.
Depending on angle and amount of light, ruby-throats can appear
different colors. Basically, the back and crown feathers are
green on both sexes. Males display fiery red throat feathers, or
gorgets, while females sport clear or faintly dotted gorgets and
an additional white band on the tips of tail feathers. Immature
ruby-throats resemble females until the young males begin to
acquire a few red feathers on their gorgets. Identification
sometimes can be extra-challenging because female black-chinned
hummingbirds are practically indistinguishable from female and
juvenile ruby-throats. However, especially in full sunlight, a
mature ruby-throated male is unmistakable.
Ruby-throats are considered neotropical migrants, meaning they
nest in North America and winter in Central and South America.
Their summer range extends north as far as southern Canada. By
fall, ruby-throats have gained enough weight and strength to fly
back across the gulf of Mexico to return to their wintering
areas. One popular myth suggests that hummers hitchhike on the
backs of migrating geese, but these little birds annually prove
they need no help to complete the journey.
Ruby-throated hummers start showing up in Oklahoma in mid-march
and early April. Males arrive and depart first, with most
leaving Oklahoma by September. Females and their young may stick
around until mid-October while some stragglers occasionally stay
and over winter in Oklahoma.
After arriving here in the spring, the first order of business
is mating and quickly constructing a nest. Nests are not much
larger than walnut shells and are made of plant down, spider
webs and lichens. they're usually located 10-20 feet above the
ground in the fork of a branch.
The female lays two eggs about the size of navy beans, usually
one day apart. The young hatch in 14-16 days and are ready to
venture out on their own after about three weeks. It is not
uncommon for mating pairs to produce two or three broods in a
season.
Hummingbirds have been a backyard favorite for many Oklahomans.
Sugar-water feeders specifically designed for hummers can bring
them close to your home for viewing. Use a formula of one part
sugar to four parts boiled water, which simulates natural flower
nectar. Never use honey, sugar substitutes or red food coloring
in the mixture. Commercial feeders are usually red enough to
attract hummers. Biologists suggest placing feeders in the shade
outside a favorite window in earl April and leaving them up at
least until November 1.
The ruby-throated hummingbird's iridescent beauty, amazing
antics at feeders and adaptability to human existence clearly
make it one ok Oklahoma's favorite "Watchable Wildlife" species.