Male Juvenile Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird

However young males masquerade as females until their first winter at which time they attain adult male plumage.

Male juvenile female ruby throated hummingbird.

Feeders and flower gardens are great ways to attract these birds and some people turn their yards into buzzing clouds of hummingbirds each summer. Adult ruby throated hummingbirds archilochus colubris are sexually dimorphic. Juvenile male ruby throated hummingbird hovering this hummingbird is from 7 to 9 cm 2 8 to 3 5 in long and has an 8 to 11 cm 3 1 to 4 3 in wingspan. I e the adult male and adult female are different in external appearance.

You would have to look quickly to see either however as. Like the male ruby throated hummingbird a white spot is easily visible behind the female s dark eye. 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. Keep in mind that from the beginning to the middle of the hummingbird season mid april to mid july you won t be seeing any juvenile birds.

The male ruby throated hummingbird does indeed have a striking red throat though the female of the species does not. The auriculars of the female ruby throated hummingbird are distinctly gray though the amount of gray coloration can vary this contrasts well with the pale throat and green head. Weight can range from 2 to 6 g 0 071 to 0 212 oz with males averaging 3 4 g 0 12 oz against the slightly larger female which averages 3 8 g 0 13 oz. These brilliant tiny precision flying creatures glitter like jewels in the full sun then vanish with a zip toward the next nectar source.