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Project Noah Nature School
Archilochus colubris
Adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are easy to identify. However, it's difficult to distinguish adult females from juvenile males and females in summer and fall. They all look alike! Adult Male Crown: metallic dark green. Throat: metallic ruby-red Back: metallic green or bronze-green Wings: near-black Breast and belly: usually brownish-gray Flanks: metallic bronze-green Tail: Forked. Feathers pointed and all dark (no white tips) Adult Female Crown: metallic dark green Throat: white, or with occasional faint tan streaking Back: metallic green or bronze-green Wings: near-black Breast and belly: white Flanks: light brown Tail: Fan-shaped. Feathers all rounded, with white tips on the outer 3 feathers on each side of tail. Juvenile Male Looks identical to adult female, except: Throat usually has some dark streaking (green or black, sometimes tan) that appears later in summer. Nearly all birds with noticeably streaked throats are young males. Throat of some young males may show one or several red throat feathers in late summer, but do not get a full red gorget until their first winter. Juvenile Female Looks identical to adult female.
Wildlife habitat yard.
Spotted on Jul 9, 2013
Submitted on Jul 21, 2013
2 Comments
Thank you.
Great shot!