Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

1st alternative:
      (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Lowland Deciduous (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Lowland Conifer (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      Stand/Gap Openings

2nd alternative:
      (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Lowland Deciduous (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Lowland Conifer (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   adjacent to:
      (Grass or Upland Brush or Edge or Riparian)

3rd alternative
      Upland Brush
      or Savanna

Habitat List:

view size class definitions

Literature:

Habitat: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird breeds in a variety of forest habitats ranging from dense to open deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous. Saunders reported that the species invariably nests in river valleys, usually on a limb which overhangs water. In Michigan, a preference for swamp habitats has also been suggested by Payne. The silver-dollar sized, lichen-covered nest is most often located 3-6 m up, on a downward-sloping branch which is sheltered from above by other branches; thus, mature trees are generally required. The sexes separate after mating, and females incubate the eggs and rear the young alone, foraging primarily in mesic and hydric forest-hence, placement of the nest near a river corridor-while males tend to occupy edge habitats.

While no significant correlation between ruby-throat distribution and that of specific food plants has been demonstrated, recent studies have suggested that ruby-throat distribution in northern Michigan and Canada is associated with that of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, whose drill-holes may provide a crucial source of nutrition for hummingbirds, especially nesting females.

In the Atlas Habitat Survey, residential-roadside-hedgerow habitat was reported more frequently than any other type, and contributed more than 50% of the observations. Various mesic and wet deciduous-coniferous forest communities, almost all mature, formed most of the remainder.

Habitat: Breeding: Mixed woodlands, shade trees in residential landscapes, orchards Often near streams and wooded swamps.

Special Habitat Requirements: Abundant flowers, preferably red.

Habitat: Gardens, wood edges. Summers in a variety of semi-open habitats, including open woods, clearings and edges in forest, gardens, city parks.

Diet: Hummingbirds are uniquely adapted for hovering at flowers to feed on nectar. They will come to feeders filled with sugar-water mixtures, and they also come to other sweet food sources; drillings made by sapsuckers. Hummingbirds also eat tiny insects. Favors red tubular blossoms such as those of trumpet vine, also many other flowers.

Nest: Site is in tree or large shrub (usually deciduous), 5-50 feet above ground, usually 10-20 feet. Placed on horizontal branch or one that slopes down from tree, usually well surrounded by leafy cover. Nest is deep cup of plant down and plant fibers, held together with spider webs, the outside camouflaged with lichens and dead leaves. May refurbish and reuse old nest.