Florida Fauna & Flora – Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Florida Fauna & Flora – Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The most common hummingbird found in Florida is the ruby-throated hummingbird. You may also see black-chinned and rufous hummingbirds according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension. The ruby-throated hummingbird is also eastern North America’s only breeding hummingbird.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are tiny. They measure only three inches long and weigh less than a penny. Males have the signature ruby-red feathers on their throats. Their back feathers are green, and they have two sets of green and black tail feathers. As is the case with many birds, females are less colorful; their feathers are green, white and black.
Hummingbirds do not hum. The noise is the rapid flapping of their wings. Ruby-throated hummingbirds beat their wings about 53 times per second. Hummingbirds can hover in the air, move forward and backward, down and upside down. Hummingbirds cannot soar, and their very short legs prevent them from walking or hopping.
Fun Fauna Fact: Hummingbirds have excellent color vision. Like many birds, they can see into the ultraviolet spectrum which humans can’t see.
Read the full August 2020 SECO News online.
