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Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Bird · family Trochilidae · order Apodiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
39 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
11 years[4]

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a small bird in the hummingbird family[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives this bird a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a national rank of N5B, which is Secure for the breeding season[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8]. NatureServe also records a CITES listing in Appendix II, which sets controls on international trade[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B (Secure (breeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Ruby-throated Hummingbird lives

NatureServe lists the Ruby-throated Hummingbird as native in 39 US states and territories[3]. These include Texas, Florida, New York, Minnesota, Maine and Nevada, along with the District of Columbia[3]. State ranks vary, and the table on this page shows them[11]. A state list shows where NatureServe records the bird, not a promise that you will see it there[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5BWIVermont: native, state rank S5BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5BNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S4ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5BMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: native, state rank SNANVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S2BSDIowa: native, state rank S4B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4BINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S3BRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRBMOKentucky: native, state rank S5BKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5BWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5BMDDelaware: native, state rank S5BDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S4BKSArkansas: native, state rank S5BARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5BNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S3B,S3NDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNRBOKLouisiana: native, state rank S5BLAMississippi: native, state rank S5BMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4BTXFlorida: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (39 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5BSecure (breeding)
ConnecticutS5BSecure (breeding)
DelawareS5BSecure (breeding)
District of ColumbiaS3B,S3NVulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
FloridaSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS4Apparently Secure
IndianaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
IowaS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
KentuckyS5BSecure (breeding)
LouisianaS5BSecure (breeding)
MaineS5BSecure (breeding)
MarylandS5BSecure (breeding)
MassachusettsS5BSecure (breeding)
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiS5BSecure (breeding)
MissouriSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
NevadaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireS5BSecure (breeding)
New JerseyS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5BSecure (breeding)
North CarolinaS5BSecure (breeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS3BVulnerable (breeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS2BImperiled (breeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
VermontS5BSecure (breeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5BSecure (breeding)
WisconsinS5BSecure (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this bird, including forest, woodland, forest edge, savanna, grassland, riparian areas and suburban or orchard settings[12]. For nesting, it uses wooded and open forests, wetlands, orchards and gardens[13]. Nests sit near the tip of a branch that slopes downward, and leaves often cover the top of the nest[13]. In winter it uses brushy regrowth, forests, shade trees on coffee farms, flowering hedges and citrus groves[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

This bird is about 10 cm (4 in) long[14]. It weighs about 3 g[15]. NatureServe lists it as a nectar eater and an insect eater[16]. One diet estimate puts it at 60% nectar and 40% invertebrates[17]. It drinks nectar from flowers, especially red tubular ones, and catches insects in flight or takes them from spider webs[18]. It also takes tree sap[18]. A clutch is 2 eggs[19]. The female alone incubates them for 12 to 17 days[20]. Young leave the nest after 18 to 22 days[20]. The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 11 years 1 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 10 cm (4 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 3 g (0.1 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[21] 9.1 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 11 years 1 months
Litter or clutch size[19] 2
Gestation or incubation[22] 13 days
Female maturity[23] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[16] Invertivore, Nectarivore
Migration[24] local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[17]

  • 60% nectar
  • 40% invertebrates

When to look for it

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is active by day[25]. NatureServe lists it as both a local migrant and a long-distance migrant, and populations can differ[24]. Many birds fly nonstop over open water in fall and spring, and they may build up enough fat to double their body mass first[26]. Others likely travel over land through Mexico and Texas[26]. Egg-laying runs from late March through early September, with the earliest nests in the deep south and the latest in the north[20]. GBIF records in the United States peak in May, August and September, which reflects when people look and report[27].

January: 22,292 recordsJanFebruary: 20,540 recordsFebMarch: 48,214 recordsMarApril: 288,462 recordsAprMay: 847,025 recordsMayJune: 474,450 recordsJunJuly: 520,099 recordsJulAugust: 771,426 recordsAugSeptember: 751,682 recordsSepOctober: 136,295 recordsOctNovember: 26,199 recordsNovDecember: 20,857 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[27].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January22,292
February20,540
March48,214
April288,462
May847,025
June474,450
July520,099
August771,426
September751,682
October136,295
November26,199
December20,857

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Ruby-throated Hummingbird as present in 128 park units[28]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 104 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida[29]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Ruby-throated Hummingbird live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 39 US states and territories[3]. It uses forests, forest edge, orchards, parks and gardens[12][13].
What does the Ruby-throated Hummingbird eat?
It eats flower nectar and small invertebrates, and it also takes tree sap[18]. One estimate is 60% nectar and 40% invertebrates[17].
How big is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
It is about 10 cm (4 in) long[14]. It weighs about 3 g[15].
How long does the Ruby-throated Hummingbird live?
The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 11 years 1 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Ruby-throated Hummingbird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Ruby-throated Hummingbird: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Ruby-throated Hummingbird as native in 39 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Ruby-throated Hummingbird from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 11 years 1 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a bird in the family Trochilidae, order Apodiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B (Secure (breeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Ruby-throated Hummingbird is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Ruby-throated Hummingbird (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Forest/woodland, Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Forest edge, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Suburban/orchard,... NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Ruby-throated Hummingbird. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 10 cm (4 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 3 g (0.1 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Nectarivore. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 60% nectar, 40% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  18. NatureServe notes on food for Ruby-throated Hummingbird. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 2. AnAge
  20. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Ruby-throated Hummingbird. NatureServe Explorer
  21. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 9.1 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  22. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 13 days. AnAge
  23. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  24. NatureServe migration category for Ruby-throated Hummingbird: local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  25. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  26. NatureServe notes on migration for Ruby-throated Hummingbird. NatureServe Explorer
  27. GBIF observation records of Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  28. NPSpecies park lists recording Ruby-throated Hummingbird as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  29. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.