Ruby Throated Hummingbird Behavioral Adaptations

They are easily identified by their small size vivid coloring long beaks and rapid wing movement.

Ruby throated hummingbird behavioral adaptations.

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. Adult male rthus arrive on their breeding grounds in spring and quickly establish non overlapping feeding territories from which they drive away intruders especially rival males. There it is fairly common in summer in open woods and gardens. These brilliant tiny precision flying creatures glitter like jewels in the full sun then vanish with a zip toward the next nectar source.

It is by far the most common hummingbird seen east of the mississippi river in north america. One of the most common of all species of hummingbirds that people are familiar with is the ruby throated hummingbird. More than 300 species of hummingbirds are known to exist today and habitats range from tropical to temperate. Hovering in front of a flower to sip nectar it beats its wings.

Feeders and flower gardens are great ways to attract these birds and some people turn their yards into buzzing clouds of hummingbirds each summer. Rufous and ruby throated hummingbirds are both specialists and generalists. They mostly eat nectar and tiny insects like specialists but can branch out to take sap from sapsucker drill holes and can even eat willow catkins when a sudden cold snap makes other spring foods. Hummingbirds evolved to display unique adaptations and anatomy allowing them to survive in several climates.

They will often remain in an area and that allows people to get a very up close. A flash of green and red the ruby throated hummingbird is eastern north america s sole breeding hummingbird. Ruby throated hummingbird archilochus colubris introduction. Humans might even consider them to be antisocial.

An adult ruby throated hummingbird may eat twice its body weight in food each day which it burns up with the high metabolism necessary to sustain its rapid wing beat and energetic movements. Many people recognize them because they aren t afraid of the presence of humans. They migrate and nest over a broad geographical range like generalists. The ruby throated hummingbird archilochus colubris is a species of hummingbird that generally spends the winter in central america mexico and florida and migrates to canada and other parts of eastern north america for the summer to breed.