Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Trochilidae
The only breeding hummingbird native to the eastern United States. Iridescent green above, white below, and in males, a throat patch so brilliant red it looks like polished garnet in the right light. Arrives in NJ in late April and departs by October.
How to spot one.
3.5 inches — smaller than a Popsicle stick
Iridescent green above, pale below
Male: brilliant red throat gorget (looks black in low light)
Female: white throat, occasional pale spotting
Straight, needle-thin bill
How it lives.
Migrates to Mexico and Central America each fall — many make the 500-mile Gulf of Mexico crossing nonstop. In NJ they nest in deciduous woods on tiny lichen-covered nests the size of a walnut. Eats small insects (gnats, aphids, spiders) in addition to nectar.
The spec sheet.
- Type
- Bird
- Active
- April – October
- Native to NJ
- Yes
- Conservation status
- stable
- Family
- Trochilidae
What it needs.
Plants this species visits, feeds on, or depends on. Names in hydrangea link to the plant’s Field Guide entry.
Primary pollinator
Primary pollinator
Nectar source
Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Primary pollinator
Trumpet Creeper
Nectar source
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Nectar source
US Forest Service · USFWS · Mercer Me