Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Description:

Young male ruby-throats are white-throated, with white in their tails--pretty much like adult females. They can be distinguished from adult females by the spotting or streaking on the throat, which increases as the summer goes on. Adult females tend to have purer white throats, but just to confuse things, will sometimes also have darker markings--but this is less typical. So, if you've got a summer bird with white in the tail, and a white throat with noticeable streaking, and especially if it seems small in size, it's probably a young male. Sometimes the males will even get a few red feathers on the throat, but won't fully molt into their red throats until they reach their wintering grounds. When they return in spring, they'll look like adult males.

Habitat:

Feeder in habitat yard with plants chosen to attract wildlife.