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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Nightjars, Swifts, Hummingbirds, and Allies (Order Caprimulgiformes)

-Hummingbirds (Family Trochilidae)

-Ruby-throated and Black-chinned Hummingbirds (Genus Archilochus)

-Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)


Archilochus colubris, also known as the Ruby-throated hummingbird, is a species of hummingbird found in the eastern United States to Central America. It inhabits open woodlands, gardens, and meadows. The extremely short legs of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird prevent it from walking or hopping. The best it can do is shuffle along a perch. Very difficult to distinguish from Black-chinned Hummingbird, especially females and young males.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Diet

  • Primarily nectar from flowering trees, shrubs, vines, and wildflowers.

  • Supplements its diet with small insects, spiders, gnats, and other tiny arthropods for protein.

  • Frequently visits hummingbird feeders and catches insects in mid-air or gleans them from foliage.

Range

  • Breeds throughout eastern and central North America, from southern Canada south through the eastern and central United States.

  • Winters primarily in Central America, with smaller numbers wintering along the Gulf Coast of Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Caribbean.

  • In Mexico, it is mainly a migrant and winter visitor, occurring chiefly along the Gulf slope and Yucatán; it is rare on the Pacific coast, including the Zihuatanejo region.

  • Occupies forests, woodland edges, gardens, parks, orchards, and flowering habitats during migration and winter.

Male / Female

  • Male: Brilliant iridescent ruby-red throat (gorget), metallic green upperparts, white underparts, and a deeply forked dark tail.

  • Female: Green upperparts with a white throat and pale grayish-white underparts; lacks the ruby throat and has white tips on the outer tail feathers.

  • Juvenile males: Resemble females but gradually develop red throat feathers during their first year.

Size

  • Length: 7–9 cm (2.8–3.5 in)

  • Wingspan: 8–11 cm (3.1–4.3 in)

  • Weight: 2–6 g

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