Archilochus colubris (Ruby-Throated Hummingbird) on 8-30-24, #1019-3.
Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. I bought a new hummingbird feeder this spring with perches to see if I could take a few good photos. Well, oddly, they didn’t seem to feed during the summer because the nectar level was always the same. Obviously, it would sour and have to be replaced. Once I filled the jar half full and marked it so I could tell if they were feeding. The level would stay the same dafter day. Every year, I only see one on occasion, and usually it is because the feeder is empty. It would fly around my head while I was working in the flower bed or watering plants on the porches. Last week, my son said he saw 2-3 hummingbirds flying around the feeder… Hmmm…
I refilled the feeder with just enough nectar to fill the bottom (with a little visible in the jar) so it wouldn’t spoil. Friday, I decided I would have lunch on the front porch. Well, she finally showed up when I didn’t have the camera… Then a little after 6 PM, I went to the front porch and sat down with the camera. Well, she finally showed up and I managed to get the above photo… 🙂 She wouldn’t sit on the perch and seemed a little nervous. She kept looking at me like she was somewhat reluctant about being watched.
Later on Friday evening, I posted the photo to iNaturalist and it was confirmed she is an Archilochus colubris (Ruby-Throated Hummingbird) female.
Archilochus colubris (Ruby-Throated Hummingbird) on 8-31-24, #1020-1.
Then on Saturday, I decided to sit on the front porch for lunch again. Within a few minutes, there was not only one, but TWO! For probably a half hour, one was chasing the other away constantly. She would even perch in the tree and wait for the other. FINALLY, she allowed the other to feed.
Archilochus colubris (Ruby-Throated Hummingbird) on 8-31-24, #1020-2.
Then I got them both together…
Archilochus colubris (Ruby-Throated Hummingbird) on 8-31-24, #1020-3.
Then she finally sat on the perch…
Archilochus colubris (Ruby-Throated Hummingbird) on 8-31-24, #1020-4.
So, I zoomed in to get a good shot! WOW!
It has been a long time since I was able to photograph a hummingbird!
Archilochus colubris (Ruby-Throated Hummingbird) on 7-28-18, #486-4.
The first and only time I took photos was on July 28 in 2018. The old feeder used to be on the back porch. It would feed then fly in a maple tree. One day, I saw it fly on a branch in the redbud tree behind the porch. I ran for the camera and took several shots.
I have never seen a male since they don’t stick around long after courtship.
The legs of hummingbirds are very short and they have no knees… They short of shuffle along on branches rather than hopping. Somehow, they still manage to scratch their head and neck with their feet.
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird has the widest breeding area of any species of hummingbird. In 2021, there were an estimated 34-36 million in their breeding range. Apparently, both males and females may have many partners… The oldest banded female lived to be 9 years old while males rarely survive past 5.
They beat their wings 53 times per second and their heart beats up to 1260 beats per minute. They take about 250 breaths per minute even at rest.
According to the Wikipedia article I read, “their muscles make up 25–30% of their body weight, and they have long, blade-like wings that, unlike the wings of other birds, connect to the body only from the shoulder joint. This adaptation allows the wing to rotate almost 180°, enabling the bird to fly not only forward but backward, and to hover in mid-air, flight capabilities that are similar to insects and unique among birds.”
I thought it was interesting that Hummingbirds are only native to the Americas and nowhere else in the world…
Well, that’s all for this post. Until next time, be safe, stay positive, always be thankful, and GET DIRTY!
The Belmont Rooster 
YAY! We have several species here in western Colorado western colorado hummingbirds They are one of my favorite birds!!! I just love them.
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Hello Linda! NICE! I really like them, too. They are a hoot! Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Hummingbirds are great fun to watch. I have had two in the garden for quite a while. In the past there has been maybe close to 20 during migration.
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Hello Judy! There is a lady that lives across the street from friends of mine that has A LOT. She fills five feeders twice a day! Maybe there will be more here during the migration. That would be awesome! Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Those are fine photos. I heard a discussion about their migration today. It seems some already are headed our way; a fishing guide near Dallas said he’s seeing dozens around his feeders in just the past week. I’d better get my feeders out and cleaned up. It may still be hot and humid here, but autumn changes are coming!
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Hello Linda! That sounds exciting and I would love to see that many around my feeder. Maybe I should put the other one out, too. I agree you need to get ready! Putting up a feeder with perches was a good idea to get some good photos. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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They are so pretty!
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Hello there! Indeed! Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Yay, your patience and persistence paid off. Lovely photos! Thanks for sharing.
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Hello Allison! You are welcome. Thank goodness for feeders with perches! It made it so much better. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Great images, and they’re not easy to photograph!
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Hello Maria! Thanks! Birds in general are difficult. GEEZ! I tried to get good photos of the hummingbirds many times, but they were just a blur. They were much better this time due to the perch on the new feeder. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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We are enjoying their antics. Nice photos you got.
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Hello Jim! They are quite fun to watch for sure. This is the first time I have seen more than one at a time. Now I can see what they mean by them being territorial. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Great photos!
Experts say that hummers are hiding all around us, but we have to create an irresistible garden in order to see a couple of them.
I use the Aspects HummBlossom 4 oz. feeder because it can be full enough with less than 1/4 cup. Also, it’s very easy to see exactly how much is in the feeder while it’s hanging. Nectar producing flowers and feeders are necessary.
Here in upstate South Carolina, I see the adult male Ruby Throat only a few times, from March to June, then he is gone.
The adult female is not seen frequently probably because she’s building the nest, tending to eggs then constantly feeding her babies.
I think the nest is always in a large evergreen tree, such as my neighbor’s old magnolia. I have one large evergreen tree, Arbutus unedo, which produces fruit all year around, and it is like a neighborhood bar for birds because the fruit ferments while still on the tree and when the birds eat it they begin falling out of the tree. The hummers avoid that tree.
Near the feeder I keep a 14 gallon open container, with drainage holes in the bottom, for vegetable and fruit kitchen scraps, thus it’s like a compost bin. It attracts gnats, which the adult female grabs while in flight and feeds to the babies. I often find a crushed gnat in the feeder when emptying it.
The entertainment begins in July. The juveniles have no fear. They start practicing to improve their skills, siblings gently chase each other and tease cats. By the time they leave in early October, their dive-bombing skill looks fierce.
I made a tiny water fountain so they could clean-off any sticky nectar and pollen. It sits in front of my kitchen window, but I only saw it used two years ago, by one male juvenile that had one tiny ruby colored feather on his throat. He cleaned himself on the tiny water fountain during the 3 days before he left in October. Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are overly cautious, suspicious and shy.
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Hello there! They can be quite entertaining if we just have time to watch them. I think we need to do whatever we can to help them survive while they are here for the summer months. Thanks for sharing your adventure with them and I’ll check out the feeder you mentioned. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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