Ruby-throated hummingbird

Hummingbirds are miraculous creatures. Their beautiful plumage, impressively long beaks, their hovering capabilities, their tiny size and their dynamic nature all combine to make them one of the most interesting types of bird in the world. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are one of the most common hummingbird species, and they are a familiar sight throughout much of North and Central America. They get their name from their distinctive red gorget or throat patch, but this feature is found only among the males. Female ruby-throated hummingbirds have gray or green throats instead. The red patch is used by the males to attract a viable mate. The red feathers are especially iridescent, appearing to darken or even change to black depending on the angle of the light. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are incredibly small, measuring in at just over 7cm, with a wingspan of up to 11cm. Their beaks can be over 2cm in length and are very narrow. Hummingbirds use their long, slender bills to feed on nectar deep within blossoming flowers, hovering in place as they do so. The nectar is rich in sugar and carbohydrates, giving them the instant energy they need to sustain their flying habits. Hummingbirds will also eat small insects—catching them mid-flight or even stealing them from the webs of spiders. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are aerial acrobats, capable of impressive maneuvers that no helicopter could ever replicate. These stunts are possible because the ruby-throated hummingbird has a wingbeat frequency of up to 200 times per second. These top speeds are reached during a special courtship dive bombing display carried out by the males. A male ruby-throated hummingbird will fly up and down in a sequence of loops above the females as she sits perched, watching. The male will also perform a shuttle display, flying back and forth and carrying out rapid changes of direction, flaring his tail feathers. While ruby-throated hummingbirds are quite common and under no threat of extinction, they are still fascinating animals with a range of interesting behaviours.