This is a great study lesson which inspired me to do some research to compare the Ruby-throated hummingbird with the Eastern Phoebe that nests regularly above a light fixture in my open shed.

The Phoebe arrives  on our property (12 acres of mixed woods with three ponds) around the end of March or the first week in April.  In contrast, our Ruby shows up around mid-May.  The Phoebe's earlier arrival, may be due to the fact its migration route is not as far as the Ruby-throated HB.   Southern Mexico for the Phoebe, well into Central America for our Ruby.   As I learned form this course, the Ruby-throated hummingbird is a long distance flier, second to the Rufous hummingbird.

Both species eat arthropods, except, the Phoebe diet is primary made up of insects and spiders, some berries when arthropod populations are low.  The Ruby, concentrates on flower nectar, sap from Sapsucker wells, and people's offer of sugar water.

Females of both species are the nest builders.  In contrast to the Phoebe, the female Ruby-throated HB, is a lone parent.  She attends to the 2 nestlings needs for the entire time.  The male Phoebe has a big role in parenting, sharing nest sitting and feeding duties of 2 to 5 babes in addition to patrolling the area.  This is when I hear his characteristic calls, his name…FeeBee!

Speaking of nests...  The Ruby's nest is very tiny, just big enough to hold 2 coffee-bean sized eggs and is constructed with various plant materials.  Spider web strands bind the plant parts together and pieces of lichen decorate the outside to help camouflage the nest, since it is usually located on a tree branch Y.  Phoebes nest on protected ledges, thus the light fixture in my shed.  The nest is larger, of course, and made up of various plant material too, but moss covering the outside is very characteristic of the Eastern Phoebe.

The Eastern Phoebe is a drab grey color.  I cannot tell the female apart from the male.  In contrast, the male Ruby gives his gender ID away when he flashes his metallic red gorget.  The female and juveniles are plain.

I've observed our Phoebe perch and hover a bit before diving to the ground to snatch an insect from the ground.  As far as hovering goes, all hummingbirds have the characteristic ability to hover in place, to move up and down and backwards, wings beating many times per second.  A hummingbird can consume 50% its weights in sugar a day and not put on fat.   It is truly amazing.

With so much energy used by the Ruby and other hummingbird species, it is easy to understand, why, when night time temperatures are very chilly, that they go into torpor - a type of deep sleep.  Other birds, like the E. Phoebe, do not need to rest in this fashion.

Of course, all birds have similar characteristic body and wing shapes.  And they perform similar behaviors.  But, the contrasts are very noticeable and unique to bird species, as with the Ruby-throated hummingbird compared to the Eastern Phoebe.

 

 

The fact that Ruby throated hummingbirds may put on 40% of their weight to fuel their migration is staggering.

I spend a lot of time photographing birds throughout the year, and hummingbirds, by far, are in a league of their own. I think in the hours a heron or bald eagle will remain still watching for an opportune time to pluck a meal out of the water, a hummingbird could quite literally drop dead. Everything about them is unique, from their way of flying, to eating, to resting. They're incredible little guys.

Hi! I have a question about the feeder. You mentioned that one way to helping hummingbirds during migration is to keep the feeder available for them. But, how do we know the precise doses of sugar for them? I would appreciate you help with this.

Many birds migrate including hummingbirds some short distance while others long distances. But not all birds migrate same is true for some species of Hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds are tiny compared to other migratory birds and require more fuel especially for long distances and must go into torpor to conserve before continuing. Some other larger birds are able to fly nonstop and use less energy.

I didn't realize they ate insects! It makes total sense for protein and needing more than just nectar, but I hadn't thought about it. I also think the ability of their nests to flex and expand as the chicks get bigger is brilliant! Seems different than other songbirds that have nests made of twigs.

Hummingbirds migrate! I also learned that the bird feeder won’t stop them from migrating. They are determined little creatures that can fly great distances.

The fact that they use spider webs to wrap around their nests and the materials they use will expand as the young grow, is absolutely brilliant.  These little birds are fascinating to say the least.

It is interesting to see the lifestyle and also migration routes in the Southern and Northern hemispheres.

This interests me as a resident of the western Palaearctic, as we do not have humming birds.

Happy birding Lindsay

Found it interesting how similar the hummingbirds lifestyle is compared to other birds in mating, building nests, searching food , including need for insects for protein

I did notice that the female hummingbirds are on their own in building nest and incubation period which is different from other type birds where raising their young hatchlings is shared by both female and male birds

Migration patterns were very impressive for these small birds

I find it amazing that something that small can travel so far! Aside from their use of sugar water feeders and their average size, they seem like other birds.

8/8/24 5,700 ft Sandía foothills - high desert.

The Rufus birds have arrive within the last week in Placitas, NM. They are chasing the black chinned birds but I put out 3 Feeders far apart to accommodate all of them.

they all seem to enjoy the many desert willow flowers and butterfly bush flowers. With the heat the feeder has to be cleaned frequently

Hummingbirds are amazingly unique but also, in many regards, just like other birds. They build nests, raise young, seek food, and brighten our days like all birds do. It was fun to learn that the Rufous Hummingbird makes the longest migration of any hummer. I always looking forward to welcoming them to the Pacific Northwest each spring. I have even more appreciation for them now!

This is the nest of a Scaley-breasted hummingbird that I photographed in Panama.

The wing structure and motion are very different as is their ability to go into torpor at night, their extremely small size and very high metabolism. But they build nests to raise their young, have feathers, preen to keep them clean, sometimes eat insects, have lekking males, sing, have sexual dimorphism, and migrate so they are solidly a bird! Very fun lecture series!!

The way they evolved to fly as they do fly, their diet, their iridescence in most of the cases, and their nightly torpor.

The abundance maps are fantastic!  I live in NY so I get to see the ruby throated hummingbird each year.  All birds benefit from native plants.  I am replacing old gardens with native plants in my yard for hummingbirds and other birds too.   Hummingbirds differ from other birds since they are only found in the Americas.  Why are there no hummingbirds in other parts of the world?  I have read that the oldest hummingbird fossil was found in Germany.  Why did they vanish from that part of the world?

Their need to fuel every 15 minutes is astounding and scary… they do live their lives on a razor thin edge! Plus throw in the fact that there are so many predators around along with competition for flowers with other birds and insects… it’s not easy being a hummingbird! The main difference in their wing structure and the ability to generate lift in both the strokes was fascinating. Also their fast heart rates and metabolism to fuel such high speeds of flapping. The rufous hummingbirds make the longest migration per body length of any bird and that’s pretty amazing!

Many differences ; the most impressive for me is how they can manage with their circulatory and metabolic behavior . I have a question regarding torpor… how frequently they do??
Very impressive for me too is how colour change depending temperature

unfortunately we don’t have hummingbirds in Spain but I have had the opportunity of entourage them in Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia….

Is so easy help them…

amayzing creatures!!

The migration of hummingbirds is similar to other birds.

The aspect that stood out to me as different was making nests from spiders webs.

Hummingbirds are similar to all birds in that they have wings and feathers, skeletal structures that allow them to fly. The also need to eat, mate and build nests for the eggs they too lay. While known to be built for pollinating they eat bugs like other birds too. Their size, wing structure and movements make them different from other birds. They can hover and fly backwards whereas other birds cannot. They also enter a state of torpor to conserve their much-needed energy at night.

As a part of my attempt to manage facial pain I use mindfulness photography of hummingbirds in our local gardens. At the same time, I was photographing this hummingbird, a mockingbird was pecking bees off the large golden sunflowers in the background, the differences were noticeable, however they both acquired the nourishment they needed to sustain themselves from the same garden.

impressed with the migration maps

Hummingbird - Nest on Hanging Male Fern (Helecho Macho Colgante).

Hummingbirds choose a spot with an overhanging leaf for protection from predators, sun and rain.

Photo: Nest - constructed as a cup shaped nest a the top a Hanging Male Fern.

Hummingbird - Nest on Hanging Male Fern (Helecho Macho Colgante).

Hummingbirds use spider webs in her nest construction, adds lichens and other plants materials to the outside of her woven nest as camouflage.

I have Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds where I live; their migration is similar to the Indigo Buntings.