Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris (Linnaeus, 1758)    Synonyms: RTHU.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Apodiformes   >   Family Trochilidae   >   Genus Archilochus   

Status:

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only regularly occurring hummingbird in the eastern half of the United States, although western species of hummingbirds occasionally show up in the East during fall and winter.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a common breeder across Maryland. It migrates to more southern climates for the winter.

Relationships:

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are strongly attracted to the color red. They regularly obtain nectar and insects from many reddish or orangish flowers, including Trumpet Honeysuckle, Trumpet Creeper, and bee balm. They also are attracted to jewelweed growing along stream sides and to many ornamental garden flowers (Terres, 1980). Tubular flowers, in particular, attract foraging Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

There are 823 records in the project database.

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Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Brady O'Brien, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - brady_obrien via iNaturalist.

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A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Harford Co., Maryland (7/21/2014). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/28/2014). Photo by David Illig. (MBP list)

A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/28/2014). Photo by David Illig. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Howard Co., Maryland (8/11/2019). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A female or immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a flower of Rattlesnake Weed (Nabalus sp.) in Howard Co., Maryland (6/7/2017). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/25/2019). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

A young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/9/2017). Photo by Wendy R. Fredericks. (MBP list)

A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/11/2015). Photo by Andy Connelly. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/26/2021). (c) Matt Felperin, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Matt Felperin via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female or immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/12/2014). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/26/2019). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/18/2022). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a cardinal flower in Howard Co., Maryland (7/20/2016). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Cecil Co., Maryland (7/13/2018). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Dorchester Co., Maryland (5/31/2019). Photo by Erica Weick. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Harford Co., Maryland (4/28/2021). (c) Brad Heath, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Brad Heath via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/8/2017). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/12/2012). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Cecil Co., Maryland (9/4/2017). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/13/2016). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/7/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/6/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Kent Co., Maryland (10/6/2020). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Howard Co., Maryland (9/12/2021). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Frye via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/26/2021). (c) Jesse C., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jesse via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/18/2021). (c) david mlr, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by david_mlr via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/17/2017). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird on a nest in Howard Co., Maryland (5/9/2015). Photo by Howard Patterson. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/13/2019). Photo by Andrew Clemens. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on nest in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/26/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird nest with young in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/5/2023). (c) Ron Wertz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). Photo by Ron Wertz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird nest with young in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/9/2023). (c) Matt Felperin, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Matt Felperin via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird on nest at Andelot Farm, Kent Co., Maryland (6/7/2014). Photo by Wayne Bell. (MBP list)

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird on nest in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/8/2017). Photo by Jane Chandler. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/20/2020). (c) Ryan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ryan Douglas. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding young at nest in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/9/2023). (c) Matt Felperin, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Matt Felperin via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An immature female Ruby-throated Hummingbird overwintering in Worcester Co., Maryland (2/24/2021). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Charles Co., Maryland (9/5/2017). Photo by William Wise. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a Cardinal Flower in Kent Co., Maryland (8/12/2019). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/17/2020). (c) llechtzin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by lauralechtzin via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/23/2013). (c) 107714670957221091332, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/23/2013). (c) 107714670957221091332, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/26/2020). (c) Charlie Davis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Charlie Davis. (MBP list)

A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird banded in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/13/2021). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)


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