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Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Description:

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a small hummingbird with a slender, slightly downcurved bill and fairly short wings that don’t reach all the way to the tail when the bird is sitting. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are bright emerald or golden-green on the back and crown, with gray-white underparts. Males have a brilliant iridescent red throat that looks dark when it’s not in good light.

Habitat:

A wildlife habitat garden with native plants and trees. The past few days have been getting cold, so this may be the last look at this familiar garden bird. It appears to be good and fat to make its migration across the Gulf of Mexico. It usually loses half its weight on the journey to come.

Notes:

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fly straight and fast but can stop instantly, hover, and adjust their position up, down, or backwards with exquisite control. They often visit hummingbird feeders and tube-shaped flowers and defend these food sources against others. You may also see them plucking tiny insects from the air or from spider webs.

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1 Comment

AgnesAdiqueTalavera
AgnesAdiqueTalavera 11 years ago

Perfect moment captured. What a spot!

gatorfellows
Spotted by
gatorfellows

Denton, Texas, USA

Spotted on Oct 5, 2012
Submitted on Oct 8, 2012

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