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An Avian Gem
Written By: William McReynolds - Highlands Plateau Audubon Society | Issue: 2016/07 - July | Photograph By: Jack Dodson
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is an avian gem of the forest and field. The bright green crown and back as well as the male’s ruby red throat are iridescent, changing colors with changing light and movement. Its movement is unique in the avian world. With wingbeats of over 50 per second, it can reach dizzying speeds, start and stop in an instant, hover, fly backwards and even fly upside down. It achieves lift with both the down stroke and uptake of its pivoting wings. It has endurance as well as agility: this migrant winters in Central America and in early spring flies nonstop to eastern North America covering as many as a thousand miles.
The Ruby-throated has a diet of nectar from tubular flowers and small insects including mosquitoes, gnats and flies—caught in midair—as well as spiders and insects in spider webs. Insects make up over 60 percent of its diet and are a vital source of protein for adult birds and their offspring. Mating is a brief affair that leaves the larger female with the responsibility of rearing the young hummers and the smaller male free to migrate early in August. Nests are the size of small cups made of thistle or dandelion held together with spider silk. Eggs are pea sized: 1/3 inch by ½ inch.
Females live as long as 12 years, males rarely more than five. So much for being foot loose and fancy free. Both molt once a year.
Here on the plateau Ruby-throated are the only indigenous hummingbirds. They are quite tolerant of the human presence and hummingbird feeders containing fresh sugar water are important components of their diet. A variety of feeders are available at local wildlife and hardware stores. Use one part table sugar dissolved in four parts rainwater or pure water in a clean feeder (no red coloring). Place the feeder where cats cannot pounce on the unsuspecting visitors and away from windows that might cause collisions. In warm weather, the nectar will need to be refreshed every few days.
Happy July bird watching from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society.
The mission of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society is to provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife and to promote conservation and restoration of the habitats that support them. HPAS is a 501 (c) (3) organization, a Chapter of the National Audubon Society. Visit www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org for information on membership and all activities.
