Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) weighs less than a nickel, and like all hummingbird species, including the Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds, it is a master of flight. Beating its wings 60 to 80 times a second, this tiny sprite creates a blur of motion and a whirring, insect-like sound. At first glance, it's easy to mistake a Ruby-throated Hummingbird for a large bee!
All hummingbirds share skeletal and muscle adaptations that allow for speedy, agile flight. They have a unique, flexible shoulder joint that allows their long, blade-like wings to rotate almost 180 degrees while moving forward and backward in a horizontal figure-8 pattern. This pattern generates lift on both forward and backward wing strokes, allowing extreme maneuverability in flight.
Also known as: Colibrí Garganta Rubí (Spanish)
Read on to find out more about the Ruby-throated Hummingbird: abcbirds.org/birds/ruby-throated-humming
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) weighs less than a nickel, and like all hummingbird species, including the Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds, it is a master of flight. Beating its wings 60 to 80 times a second, this tiny sprite creates a blur of motion and a whirring, insect-like sound. At first glance, it's easy to mistake a Ruby-throated Hummingbird for a large bee!
All hummingbirds share skeletal and muscle adaptations that allow for speedy, agile flight. They have a unique, flexible shoulder joint that allows their long, blade-like wings to rotate almost 180 degrees while moving forward and backward in a horizontal figure-8 pattern. This pattern generates lift on both forward and backward wing strokes, allowing extreme maneuverability in flight.
Also known as: Colibrí Garganta Rubí (Spanish)
Read on to find out more about the Ruby-throated Hummingbird: abcbirds.org/birds/ruby-throated-humming
