Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only species of hummingbird that breeds east of the Mississippi River in North America. These sparkling little birds are among the smallest of all birds, but what they lack in size they make up for in personality and aerial prowess.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are famous for their impressive long-distance migrations. In the fall, these tiny birds fly non-stop for up to 500 miles over the Gulf of Mexico to reach their wintering grounds in Central America.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that regularly nests east of the Mississippi River.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that regularly nests east of the Mississippi River. It is a small bird, measuring only 3-5 inches in length and weighing less than half an ounce.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird has a long, thin beak that is specially adapted for sipping nectar from flowers. The bird’s wings are extremely powerful, allowing it to hover in mid-air and to fly forwards, backwards, and even upside down!
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a very agile flier and is often seen chasing other birds away from its territory. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird migrates south in the fall, before the weather gets too cold. The bird spends the winter in Mexico and Central America, where it can find plenty of flowers to feed on. In the spring, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird returns to its nesting grounds in the eastern United States. The bird builds a small nest out of moss, leaves, and spider webs.
The female lays two eggs in the nest and incubates them for about two weeks. After the eggs hatch, the young birds stay in the nest for another three weeks before they are able to fly.
These tiny birds weighing only about 3 grams use their long wings to make a figure 8 flying pattern as they migrate alone or in small groups to their wintering grounds in Mexico.
The ruby-throated hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in North America, weighing only about 3 grams. These tiny birds use their long wings to make a figure 8 flying pattern as they migrate alone or in small groups to their wintering grounds in Mexico. The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds east of the Mississippi River. These amazing little birds can fly up to 60 miles per hour and migrate up to 500 miles in a single day!
The majority of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird population migrate between late August to early October.
The majority of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird population migrate between late August to early October. They typically migrate along the Gulf Coast and then head up the Atlantic Flyway. Some hummingbirds may even migrate as far north as Canada. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only species of hummingbird that commonly nests east of the Mississippi River.
The southward fall migration route follows the Appalachian Mountains south through the eastern United States into Mexico.
The southward fall migration route of the ruby throated hummingbird follows the Appalachian Mountains south through the eastern United States into Mexico. This migration route provides the hummingbird with a variety of different landscapes and ecosystems to feed and rest in as they make their long journey south.
The Appalachian Mountains provide a barrier between the cold northern regions and the warmer southern regions, making the journey a bit easier for the hummingbird as they can find food and shelter more easily along the way.
In the spring, the migration route reverses as the birds return north to their breeding grounds.
As the weather warms up in the spring, ruby-throated hummingbirds begin their journey back north to their breeding grounds. They usually travel alone or in small groups, and they generally follow the same route they took during their southward migration in the fall.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds east of the Mississippi River in North America. These tiny birds are amazing flyers, and they can cover up to 500 miles in a single day!
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds breed in the United States and only a small percentage of the population over-winter
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds breed in the United States and only a small percentage of the population over-winter. The males will migrate first, usually in August, and the females will follow a few weeks later in September. The migration route takes them from the northern United States and Canada, all the way down to Central America. The migration is a long and arduous journey, but it is necessary for the survival of the species.
Conclusion
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that regularly nests east of the Mississippi River. It is a small bird, measuring only 3-1/2 inches long from the tip of its bill to the end of its tail. The adult male has a brilliant ruby-red throat and upper chest, with a white belly. The adult female is greenish above and whitish below, with some orange-red on its throat. Immature birds look like the adult female, but they may have a few red feathers on their throats. The ruby-throated hummingbird is a migrant, wintering in Central America. It begins to head south in late August or early September, and most are gone from the United States by early November. A few hardy hummingbirds may remain in the southern United States throughout the winter, but most will have migrated to Central America by December.