Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Overview
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Medium hummingbird, iridescent green upperparts, head, flanks. Underparts are pale gray, paler breast, green wash on sides, belly; throat is bright red with black chin. Tail is dark, forked. Feeds primarily on nectar. Direct and hovering flight with very rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Breeds from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast; only hummingbird that breeds east of the Mississippi River. Spends winters mainly in the tropics and rarely on the Gulf Coast. Found in woodlands, orchards, and gardens.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a small bird that is the only hummingbird found nesting east of the Mississippi River of the United States. This species breeds throughout eastern North America and Canadian prairies. The preferred habitat includes deciduous and pine forests and edges of woodlands, orchards and gardens. Nests are built in a hidden location among shrubs and trees. These birds migrate south in winter months to southern Mexico, Central America and South America. Their diets consist mainly of nectar from flowers and tree flora, but they will occasionally eat insects and tree sap. The conservation rating of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is Least Concern.

INTERESTING FACTS
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird female lays eggs about the size of peas. Their migration north appears to be timed according to the appearance of certain flowers along their route. These birds can fly fast either forward or backward and are also capable of hovering. A group of hummingbirds has many collective nouns, including a "bouquet", "glittering", "hover", "shimmer", and a "tune" of hummingbirds.