Ruby-throated Hummingbird
An eastern summer visitor that responds to tubular flowers, clean nectar, and safe open flight lanes.
By Birdly Yard Editorial TeamReviewed Updated
Local season
Months with a state-level historical signal for this species.
Ways to support Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Choose a starting point for Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Open a setup to see the supplies, steps and checks for your location.
A hummingbird feeder
Sugar water + a washable nectar feeder
See setup & checksLeafy branches for open nests
Natural branch forks and foliage
See setup & checksNative flowers in bloom
Flower nectar without a feeder
See setup & checksResource illustrations are not complete nest-box designs or a promise of visits.
Status
Historical seasonal record
Look for it
Watch flowering gardens, woodland edges, hanging plants, and a feeder placed clear of ambush cover.
Food
Flower nectar, sugar-water from a clean feeder, and small insects.
Nesting
Natural nesting guidance
Ruby-throated Hummingbird habitat
Tubular flowers, woodland edges, and small perches create a better yard than a feeder alone.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird diet and food
Flower nectar, sugar-water from a clean feeder, and small insects.
Use a clean hummingbird feeder with plain sugar water at roughly one part sugar to four parts water; no dye is needed.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird nesting and breeding
Builds tiny nests on tree branches; never search for, photograph closely, or disturb an occupied nest.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird behavior and where to look
Hovers precisely at nectar sources and may vanish quickly between flowers, perches, and cover.
Photography
Photograph from a natural perch or flowering plant and avoid positioning yourself at an active feeder or nest.
What to avoid
Change nectar before it clouds, especially in heat, and place feeders where cats cannot wait below them.
Continue exploring
Explore related bird guides
Compare food, habitat and nesting. Local seasonal records vary by species.
