Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird Tail

Ruby throated hummingbirds winter in mexico and central america.

Female ruby throated hummingbird tail.

Each feather is rounded and the tail is fan shaped. While tiny and hard to see the chins of these birds can be an obvious field mark. Female ruby throated hummingbird taking various defensive and evasive actions around a man made feeder. Ruby throated hummingbirds are tiny birds they weigh between about 0 1 and 0 2 ounces and measure between 2 8 to 3 5 inches in length.

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. A flash of green and red the ruby throated hummingbird is eastern north america s sole breeding hummingbird. The oldest known ruby throated hummingbird to be banded was 9 years and 1 month of age. On females the broad tailed hummingbird has a streaked throat while the female ruby throated hummingbird s throat is much more plain and any streaks would be very faint.

The outer three tail feathers on each side have white tips and when perched the tail is slightly longer than the folded wingtips. Adult male ruby throated hummingbirds above left have pointed rectrices tail feathers that are all dark with no white tips. The flight feathers of ruby throated hummingbirds include 10 full length primary feathers six secondary feathers and 10 rectrices the largest feathers used for flight. Feeders and flower gardens are great ways to attract these birds and some people turn their yards into buzzing clouds of hummingbirds each summer.

The ruby throated hummingbird s tongue is even longer. The female ruby throated hummingbird has a rounded tail without the sharp points of the male s tail feathers though they are still somewhat pointed. She is distinguished by a white throat and a dark rounded tail with white tips. The female ruby throated hummingbird doesn t get the fancy gorget.

To get there from their north american breeding grounds some birds embark on a marathon nonstop flight across the gulf of mexico. The tail is forked. Almost all hummingbirds of 7 years or more in age are females with males rarely surviving past 5 years of age. However young males above right like females of any age have white tips on the outer three rectrices on each side.