What do Ruby-throated hummingbirds look like?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are basically metallic green in colour above, with gray below. The adult male has a slightly forked tail. He has feathers on his throat that may appear to be black but they flash red or orange in the sunlight, thus giving the bird its name. Females have white throats. Their tails are not forked and have white spots on the corners. Young birds resemble the females.
Where do Ruby-throated hummingbirds live?
From spring to fall, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird can be found from Southern Canada and south to Florida. It is the only hummingbird that nests east of the Mississippi River and the east-west range extends all the way to the Great Plains. Hummingbirds migrate to warmer areas in the fall and spend the winter there. They may go to Southern Texas, North-Central Mexico or south to Costa Rica.
They prefer to live in areas where there are many flowers available. They live in gardens, woods, orchards and the margins of forests. They prefer to live and nest in trees at least five to twenty feet above the ground. They like down-sloping branches with leaves overhead to shelter them. They prefer to sleep on small twigs at the ends of branches, where no predators can reach them
What do Ruby-throated Hummingbirds eat?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds eat insects and nectar from many flowering plants. They are attracted to the colour red. Some of their favourite flowers to feed from are columbines, salvia, vines (trumpet, coral and honeysuckle) and bee balm. They also enjoy tree sap. Some of the insects they eat are small beetles, weevils, flies, gnats, mosquitoes, aphids, flying ants, wasps and spiders. They are often seen picking insects from spider webs. Hummingbirds readily visit feeders in back yards to drink nectar. While wintering in Costa Rica, they survive the months of January to March (when there are no flowers to provide nectar) by eating mostly insects.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and their young:
Does this hummingbird need help?
1) In winter, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds live in:
C. Texas, Mexico and Costa Rica.
D. the New England states.
2) Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are found:
A. In Europe
B. In Alaska
C. In shopping centres
D. Through most of Canada and the United States
3) Hummingbirds eat
A. French fries
B. Nectar from flowering plants
C. Mostly birdseed.
D. Grain from farmers' fields
4) When sleeping, hummingbirds:
B. Sometimes raid the refrigerator
C. Lower their temperature and heart rate
D. Walk in their sleep
5) Hummingbird nests:
A. Are lined with newspaper
B. Are smaller than your thumb
C. Have little lights in front to help them see
D. Are often used by other birds
did you do? If you
Hummingbirds sip nectar
They think that's where it's at!
In winter though... wouldn't you know?
It's ant and fly and gnat.
I'd like to be a hummingbird...
I think I'd like to try it.
I'll leap and dart and twist and jump,
But ugh! That winter diet!