Juvenile Ruby Throated Hummingbird Female

While females have very faint gray streaks on the throat juvenile male ruby throated hummingbirds have much bolder streaks that will gradually show the red iridescence characteristic of their fathers.

Juvenile ruby throated hummingbird female. These brilliant tiny precision flying creatures glitter like jewels in the full sun then vanish with a zip toward the next nectar source. Females are green above with rufous washed flanks rufous patches in the green tail and often a spot of orange in the throat. Bright orange on the back and belly with a vivid iridescent red throat. A flash of green and red the ruby throated hummingbird is eastern north america s sole breeding hummingbird.

Very very rarely they may have a single red feather on the throat. Spencer follett macaulay library. There it is fairly common in summer in open woods and gardens. It is the only species of hummingbird to breed in the eastern united states.

Young birds may show a few red spots near the base of the throat and those spots will eventually become a full colorful gorget. Impressive migrants despite their small size some ruby throats may. Older females occasionally have one or two black throat feathers below. In good light male rufous hummingbirds glow like coals.

Hundreds of kinds of hummingbirds nest in the american tropics and more than a dozen in the western u s but east of the great plains there is only the ruby throat. Note that young males see next section resemble females. Female ruby throated hummingbirds of any age have a white throat that is sometimes marked with faint gray or buffy streaking two photos above. The differences in male female and juvenile ruby throated hummingbirds are subtle but if you know what to look for you can identify between the three fairly easily.

Feeders and flower gardens are great ways to attract these birds and some people turn their yards into buzzing clouds of hummingbirds each summer. Juvenile male ruby throated hummingbird hovering this hummingbird is from 7 to 9 cm 2 8 to 3 5 in long and has an 8 to 11 cm 3 1 to 4 3 in wingspan. The juvenile hummingbird may have green or black streaking and or one to several iridescent red feathers on the throat. Keep in mind that from the beginning to the middle of the hummingbird season mid april to mid july you won t be seeing any juvenile birds.