Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris)

Juvenile Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

August 25, 2026

When they fledge, all Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) look like adult female hummingbirds of that species. Rounded white tips on the end of their tail feathers, and plain white gorgets (throats).

Given just a little bit of time the young males look a bit different. Those white gorgets begin to look more like they have a 5 O’clock shadow, and sometimes, those tiny red feathers are just beginning to become visible.

Then, during their first winter, the young males will go through their first winter molt. The rounded, white-tipped tail feathers, which look like the tails feathers of an adult female, will be replaced with the dark, pointed feathers that adult males have. And the rest of that red gorget grows in.

I can imagine hearing them all shout out in a chorus, as the winter molt is completed, “Ta Daaah!

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More Hummingbirds

August 12, 2026

Yesterday, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) getting nectar at Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis). Today, oodles of them at the feeders enjoying their hummingbird syrup.

They keep me busy. There are two feeders out on the front porch, and the hummingbirds empty 2 quarts every 3 days. They also keep me entertained with their antics, fighting each other off one moment and calmly sipping together the next. I have no idea how many there are out there. They move around much too quickly to count.

A favorite part of summer.

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Many Of The Fledglings Are Here Now

July 24, 2026

Fledglings of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) are at the feeders these days, keeping me busy, mixing up sugar and water for their feeders. The formula is, 1/4 cup of white granulated sugar to each 1 cup of water.

No telling whether females or males are out there battling each other. At this stage in their lives they all look like females. All have white throats, and all have tails tipped with white.

They are so entertaining.

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Waiting For The Fledglings

July 8, 2026

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird fanning out her tail.

I’m looking forward to the end of July, when a vast majority of the nestling Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) have fledged and are coming to the many flowers here on the mountain, and particularly to my feeders.

The population of these hummingbirds seems down a bit from past years, but who knows. I don’t keep serious records. I’m counting on an obvious population boom with the fledglings arriving from their nests. That normally happens by the end of July, when there will be many of the clowns of summer to entertain me, and keep me busy, making hummingbird syrup every day to keep them happy.

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On Their Way!

October 5, 2025

The last of the migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) came through a couple days ago, getting refills of energy at the Zinnias (Zinnia) that are in the garden.

I captured this one in pixels and was surprised to see that I actually got a picture of its tongue reaching into the flower for the nectar. Look closely and perhaps you’ll be able to see it. The tongue of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird is about 1.5 inches long and it is used in an incredible fashion.

The tongue is rather tubular and forked. As the tongue comes out the forked tips are held together, giving the tongue the look of a long needle. Reaching the nectar, it splits its hairlike structures along the tongue’s tips, unfurling in the nectar. As the hummingbird removes its tongue from the nectar those hairlike structures re-furl and trap nectar within each tongue tip. The nectar is released by the hummingbird, squeezing and compressing the tongue as it’s drawn into the bill. This process can occur up to twelve times a second. Amazing.

Several minutes later and another hummingbird came by for Zinnia nectar and another demonstration of the incredible action of its tongue.

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A Juvenile Male Hummingbird

July 20, 2025

The juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) are at the feeders now, providing great entertainment with their seemingly goofy actions.

This is a juvenile male. See those spots of dark feathering on his gorget? If you look closely, you’ll actually be able to see one teeny-tiny spot of red, as one of those scarlet iridescent feathers has already grown in.

I love having the these flying acrobats that weigh about one-tenth of an ounce around, if only for this season. The clowns of summer.

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Iridescent Colors

June 20, 2025

The tiny birds with scarlet red, and emerald green, iridescent feathers. The clowns of summer. They’re here entertaining me. So quick in motion. I put out sugar water and they come when I call. I’m totally enchanted. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris).

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Hummingbirds And Blooms

April 12, 2025

I’ve been wondering about the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris). How in the world are they finding nectar here to keep them humming along? The woods and gardens are just beginning to create the blooms that the hummingbirds need.

Turns out the answer is quite obvious. The many trees that are in bloom right now, in early spring are generous with their nectar. The Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is among our hummingbirds’ favorite trees.

And the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) is also right up there among the favorites. So many generous flowers providing them nectar all along their route from the very far south to their summer breeding grounds.

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Ready And Waiting

April 6, 2025

All set. A feeder is out filled with hummingbird syrup. Four parts water to one part sugar with no red dye. Now the wait begins. There have been a couple years when Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) arrived here on April 17th. I’m patiently waiting to see what their arrival date will be this year.

They spend their winter in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama returning in the spring for their breeding season in Eastern North America.

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Soon There Will Be Hummingbirds!

March 4, 2025

I’m delighted to say and a bit surprised that it will be occurring again in what seems such a short amount of time — next month Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) will be arriving again. The tiny clowns of the avian world.

My first sighting last year was on April 17th when three of them made an appearance. A few days before that date, this year, I’ll put out a feeder filled with syrup.

And let the show begin!

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