Ruby Throated Hummingbird Nesting Season

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Ruby throated hummingbird nesting season. Hundreds of kinds of hummingbirds nest in the american tropics and more than a dozen in the western u s but east of the great plains there is only the ruby throat. Juveniles and non breeding birds look similar to. A few ruby throated hummingbirds rufous hummingbirds and black chinned hummingbirds winter rarely but regularly in alabama. In fact it s the only one that breeds east of the mississippi river.

Ruby throated hummingbirds are iridescent green with white bellies. There it is fairly common in summer in open woods and gardens. If none are available she alone builds a new nest in about 6 to 10 days. Female ruby throated hummingbird may reuse old nests for several seasons and repair them annually.

The female builds a nest in a protected location in a shrub or a tree. To reach these eastern breeding grounds the ruby throated hummingbird takes a perilous route of flying over 500 miles non stop over the gulf of mexico. Feeders and flower gardens are great ways to attract these birds and some people turn their yards into buzzing clouds of hummingbirds each summer. Put out your hummingbird feeders in alabama by the first week of march.

The cup shaped nest is usually only about 1 2 inches 2 5 5 cm high and 1 5 inches 3 8 cm wide. The ruby throated hummingbird is one of the most commonly found hummingbirds of the united states. Unlike some other birds the duties of creating the nest incubation and feeding the chicks are entirely up to the female ruby throated hummingbird. Of all hummingbirds in the united states this species has the largest breeding range.

As soon as mating is over the female ruby throated hummingbird has little to do with the male or vice versa she selects a suitable place for her nest often atop a small downward slanting branch overhanging an open area or stream but sometimes on a large horizontal limb and then spends many hours collecting spider webs and plant parts that she weaves into a small. Ruby throated hummingbirds winter in mexico and central america. Females in contrast have a grayish throat with white underparts and green coloring on the upper body. Impressive migrants despite their small size some ruby throats may.

Their common name refers to the brilliant reddish orange coloring on the throat of mature males during the breeding season. A flash of green and red the ruby throated hummingbird is eastern north america s sole breeding hummingbird. Hovering in front of a flower to sip nectar it beats its wings more than 50 times per second. Nesting habits of the ruby throated hummingbird once mating is complete the male moves on while the female begins nest building in earnest.

Ruby throated hummingbirds arrive in alabama about the 2nd week of march and depart alabama about the 1st week of november. The breeding habitat is throughout most of the eastern united states and south central and southeastern canada in deciduous and pine forests and forest edges orchards and gardens.