Difference between revisions of "Field Guide/Birds/Archilochus colubris"

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{{Taxobox
+
{{Bird id
| color = pink
 
 
| name = Ruby-throated Hummingbird
 
| name = Ruby-throated Hummingbird
| status = LC
+
| latin_name = Archilochus colubris
| image = Rubythroathummer65.jpg
+
| image_1 = Rubythroathummer65.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
+
| caption_1 = Ruby-throated Hummingbird
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
+
| image_2 = Male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird 1.jpg
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
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| caption_2 = Male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
| ordo = [[Trochiliformes]]
+
| image_3 = Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in Flight.jpg
| familia = [[Trochilidae]]
+
| caption_3 = Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
| genus = ''[[Archilocus (genus)|Archilochus]]''
+
| range_map = Rubinkehlkolibri (a. colubris) world.png
| species = '''''A. colubris'''''
+
| call = Archilochus colubris.ogg
| binomial = ''Archilochus colubris''
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| description = The '''Ruby-throated Hummingbird''' (''Archilochus colubris''), is a small hummingbird. It is the most common species of hummingbird that breeds in the eastern half of North America.
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758)
 
}}
 
  
The '''Ruby-throated Hummingbird''' (''Archilochus colubris''), is a small [[hummingbird]]. It is the most common species of hummingbird that breeds in the eastern half of [[North America]].
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The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is 7-9 cm long with an 8-11 cm wingspan, and weighs 2-6 g. Adults are metallic green above and greyish white below, with near-black wings. Their bill is long, straight and very slender. The adult male has an iridescent ruby red throat patch which may appear black in some lighting, and a dark forked tail. The female has a dark rounded tail with white tips and generally no throat patch, though she may sometimes have a light or whitish throat patch. The male is smaller than the female, and has a slightly shorter beak. A moult of feathers occurs once per year, and begins during the autumn migration.
  
=== Description ===
+
The breeding habitat is throughout most of eastern North America and the Canadian prairies, in deciduous and pine forests and forest edges, orchards, and gardens. The female builds a nest in a protected location in a shrub or tree.  
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is 7-9 cm long with an 8-11 cm wingspan, and weighs 2-6 g. Adults are metallic green above and greyish white below, with near-black wings. Their bill is long, straight and very slender. The adult male, shown in the photo, has an [[iridescent]] ruby red throat patch which may appear black in some lighting, and a dark forked tail. The female has a dark rounded tail with white tips and generally no throat patch, though she may sometimes have a light or whitish throat patch. The male is smaller than the female, and has a slightly shorter beak. A moult of feathers occurs once per annum, and begins during the autumn migration.
 
  
[[Image:Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in Flight.jpg|thumb|left|Female Ruby-throated hummingbird in flight.]]
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The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is migratory, spending most of the winter in Mexico or Central America.
=== Habitat ===
 
The breeding habitat is throughout most of [[Eastern United States|eastern]] [[North America]] and the [[Canada|Canadian]] [[prairie]]s, in deciduous and pine forests and forest edges, orchards, and gardens. The female builds a nest in a protected location in a shrub or tree.  
 
  
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is [[bird migration|migratory]], spending most of the winter in [[Mexico]] or [[Central America]].
+
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are solitary. Adults of this species typically only come into contact for the purpose of mating, and both males and females of any age aggressively defend feeding locations within his or her territory. The aggressiveness becomes most pronounced in late summer to early fall as they fatten up for migration. They  feed frequently while active during the day and  when temperatures drop, particularly on cold nights, they may conserve energy by entering hypothermic torpor.  
  
=== Behavior ===
+
The birds feed on nectar from flowers and flowering trees using a long extendable tongue or catch insects on the wing. Due to their small size, they are vulnerable to insect-eating birds and animals.  
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are [[solitary]]. Adults of this species typically only come into contact for the purpose of mating, and both males and females of any age aggressively defend feeding locations within his or her territory. The aggressiveness becomes most pronounced in late summer to early fall as they fatten up for migration. They  feeding frequently while active during the day and  when temperatures drop, particularly on cold nights, they may  conserve energy by entering [[hypothermic]] [[Wiktionary:torpid|torpor]].
+
Females lay two white eggs averaging {{units|12.9 by 8.5 mm|0.5 by 0.3 in}}.
 
+
}}
The birds feed on [[nectar]] from [[flower]]s and flowering trees using a long extendable tongue or catch [[insect]]s on the wing. Due to their small size, they are vulnerable to insect-eating birds and animals.  
 
Females lay two white eggs averaging 12.9 by 8.5 millimeters (0.5 x 0.3 in).
 
 
 
{{Listen
 
|filename=Archilochus colubris.ogg
 
|title=''Archilochus colubris'' call
 
|description=Bird call of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (''Archilochus colubris'')
 
|format=[[Ogg]]}}
 
 
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=48450|title=Archilochus colubris|downloaded=12 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
 
* Interesting Ruby-throated Hummingbird Facts donated by [http://www.birdhouses101.com/ruby-throated-hummingbird.asp BirdHouses101.com]
 
* http://www.rubythroat.org/RTHUExternalMain.html
 
* http://www.hummingbirds.net/rubythroated.html
 
 
 
== External links ==
 
{{commons|Archilochus colubris}}
 
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird.html Ruby-throated Hummingbird] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
 
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i4280id.html Ruby-throated Hummingbird Information] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
 
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/ruby_throated_hummingbird_info.htm Ruby-throated Hummingbird Information and Photos] - South Dakota Birds and Birding
 
* [http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/index.php?pic=776 Ruby-throated hummingbird at feeder (animation)]
 
* http://www.rubythroat.org - "Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project"
 
* http://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/photogallery - photographs of this and other hummingbird species
 
* [http://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/ruby-throated-hummingbird.html All about the Ruby-throated Hummingbird]
 
* [http://www.dyesscreek.com/miscellaneous_pages/hummingbird_photography.html How to Photograph Hummingbirds - including many photos of this species]
 
* [http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html migration map (US and Canada only)]
 
* [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17589 2007 spring migration]
 
 
 
[[Category:Archilochus]]
 
[[Category:Birds of Canada|Hummingbird, Ruby-throated]]
 
[[Category:Birds of the United States|H]]
 
 
 
[[da:Rubinstrube]]
 
[[de:Rubinkehlkolibri]]
 
[[fr:Colibri à gorge rubis]]
 
[[he:קוליברי אדום חזה מצוי]]
 
[[nl:Robijnkeelkolibrie]]
 
[[ja:ノドアカハチドリ]]
 
[[tr:Kızıl sinek kuşu]]
 

Revision as of 04:15, 22 March 2007

Archilochus colubris (Ruby-throated Hummingbird)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Range
Male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Description
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), is a small hummingbird. It is the most common species of hummingbird that breeds in the eastern half of North America.

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is 7-9 cm long with an 8-11 cm wingspan, and weighs 2-6 g. Adults are metallic green above and greyish white below, with near-black wings. Their bill is long, straight and very slender. The adult male has an iridescent ruby red throat patch which may appear black in some lighting, and a dark forked tail. The female has a dark rounded tail with white tips and generally no throat patch, though she may sometimes have a light or whitish throat patch. The male is smaller than the female, and has a slightly shorter beak. A moult of feathers occurs once per year, and begins during the autumn migration.

The breeding habitat is throughout most of eastern North America and the Canadian prairies, in deciduous and pine forests and forest edges, orchards, and gardens. The female builds a nest in a protected location in a shrub or tree.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is migratory, spending most of the winter in Mexico or Central America.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are solitary. Adults of this species typically only come into contact for the purpose of mating, and both males and females of any age aggressively defend feeding locations within his or her territory. The aggressiveness becomes most pronounced in late summer to early fall as they fatten up for migration. They feed frequently while active during the day and when temperatures drop, particularly on cold nights, they may conserve energy by entering hypothermic torpor.

The birds feed on nectar from flowers and flowering trees using a long extendable tongue or catch insects on the wing. Due to their small size, they are vulnerable to insect-eating birds and animals. Females lay two white eggs averaging 12.9 by 8.5 mm0.5 by 0.3 in.