Colibrí Gorgirrubi
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Song
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Appearance: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a very small hummingbird, about 8 cm long. The male has bright metallic green upperparts, pale grayish underparts, and a brilliant ruby-red throat that can look dark when not catching the light. The female lacks the red throat and is green above with whitish underparts and a rounded tail with white tips.
Habitat: It breeds mainly in eastern North America in deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, orchards, gardens, parks, and wooded suburbs. During migration and winter, it uses tropical forest edges, scrub, gardens, plantations, and flowering areas from southern Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean.
Behavior: It feeds mostly on nectar from flowers and feeders, but also eats tiny insects and spiders. It hovers while feeding and may defend rich flower patches aggressively. This species is strongly migratory, and many individuals cross the Gulf of Mexico during migration between North America and wintering areas.
Breeding: Breeding occurs in eastern North America, not Colombia. The female builds a tiny cup-shaped nest on a tree branch, using plant down, spider silk, and lichens. She usually lays 2 white eggs and raises the young alone.
Conservation Status: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern.
MALE
FEMALE
Distribution
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird would be considered absent or at most an accidental/vagrant species.
Taxonomy
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Archilochus
- Species: colubris
Vocalization
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) has simple, high-pitched vocalizations. Its main sounds include:
Song: The male gives a repeated, monotonous series of tiny chip notes, especially around daybreak.
Common Call: A short, sharp “chee-dit” call is often exchanged between individuals and may be heard during chases or interactions.
Territorial Call: It gives rapid, squeaky chirps or chips when defending a feeding area or warning another hummingbird away.
Courtship Sounds: During courtship displays, the male can produce fast “tik-tik-tik” sounds with the wings during shuttle or dive displays. These are mechanical sounds rather than true vocal calls.
Wing Hum: Both males and females make a soft humming sound with their wings in flight; it is usually louder and higher-pitched in males.
