![]() Unlike many other hummingbird populations in North America, ruby-throated hummingbird populations have steadily increased from 1966 to 2014. If successful, they will mate and she will take over the duties of nesting and caring for the young. During this dance, he prominently displays his glistening ruby throat in an effort to attract her attention. While courting, the male performs a spectacular aerial dance above females. Males are the first to arrive and they establish breeding territories as the females are heading north. To prepare for such a feat, the ruby-throated hummingbirds increase their body weight by as much as 35-40% in as little as four days! Generally, their northward migration begins in late February, but we often do not see our first hummingbirds in Maryland until April. These pint-sized birds can fly 500 miles over the Gulf of Mexico without stopping. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are migration marvels. However, adult females have white outer corners on their tails while adult, non-breeding males do not. Juveniles and non-breeding birds look similar to females. Females, in contrast, have a grayish throat with white underparts and green coloring on the upper body. Their common name refers to the brilliant reddish-orange coloring on the throat of mature males during the breeding season. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are iridescent green with white bellies. They are the only species of hummingbird known to breed in our area, though five other hummingbird species have been documented in Maryland. ![]() ![]() We are fortunate to have ruby-throated hummingbirds return to Maryland year after year. The familiar hum of its flight and the flash of green are a welcome sight in gardens. It travels from Central America back to the eastern United States in the spring to breed. That’s the easiest way to distinguish the two.Weighing just about the same as a penny, the mighty ruby-throated hummingbird makes a 1,000-plus mile journey each year. In the adult male, the Allen’s Hummingbird has a green back and rump, but a rufous tail, and the Rufous Hummingbird usually has a rufous back, rump and tail. In fact, the female and immature males of both species are pretty much indistinguishable. The Allen’s Hummingbird is very difficult to distinguish from the Rufous Hummingbird. In their natural environment, they use native plant species such as honeysuckle, bush-monkeyflower, and fuchsia-flowered gooseberry for their nectar needs. Though their habitat has been altered by humans, they’ve adapted well to urban and suburban environments – zipping from feeder to feeder. Allen’s hummingbird has the most restricted breeding ranges of all native North American hummingbirds. It was named after the Californian bird collector, Charles A. This small but territorial hummingbird has a medium-short to medium black bill and an extensive rufous plumage.
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