Like a little spot of pure energy, the Ruby Throated Hummingbird is a highly active, beautiful species of Hummingbird that is common in many areas of North America. This stunning little bird is enjoyed regularly by people all over the region.

Most people will tell you that they love hummingbirds - what's not to like? These bright, energetic little creatures will happily visit most any hummingbird feeder you put out for them, giving you a brilliant show of fast moving, bright colors at all times of the day. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is the most common hummingbird species in the Eastern United States and Canada. They are also common to Central America and Mexico, where they spend their winters. They live mostly in wooded habitats, where they can build their nests nearby. Easily attracted to backyards, the Ruby Throated Hummingbird will most likely visit you if you provide a feeder, water, and possibly even a good place to build a nest. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird lives mostly off of nectar, though they have been known to eat and small insects and sap. Often they will visit your yard to feed from flowers but will happily feed from any hummingbird feeder you have in your backyard. If this Hummingbird decides to nest in your backyard, you're in for a treat. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird nest is no larger than a walnut, and they will typically build nests somewhere in a tree with lots of small twigs, so it can rest between two twigs. Using spider silk to bind everything together, the Hummingbird will weave its nest out of small twigs and leaves, and then coats the outside with moss and the inside with down. If you can find one of these little treasures, you're a lucky bird watcher - but few are so lucky. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is a really interesting species for a few reasons. One, it is an unbelievably brave little bird, hummingbirds of this type are known to take on any challenger to the safety of the nest, even animals as large as a hawk or an eagle. Secondly they are biologically fascinating. Because of its incredibly fast metabolism the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds can take in up to 50 percent of their own body weight in sugar every day without gaining any additional mass.

The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is often referred to as a jewel, because of its fantastic coloring. They have a green tail and wings. They are a shiny, almost metallic-looking green above, with a white belly. The male of this species has a pitch-black chin and a ruby-colored throat, hence the name. The female of this species has a black spotted chin, and a white throat, along with white tips at the edges of her wings. Their bills are characteristically long and thin, allowing them to easily obtain nectar from flowers and hummingbird feeders. This species is sometimes confused with its western cousin the Black-chinned Hummingbird.

Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are easy to attract to your backyard, and this can be done a variety of different ways. One of the most tried and true methods is to plant a lot of brightly colored flowers in your backyard, so the Hummingbird will not only be attracted to the color but the sweet nectar inside, as well. Ruby Throated Hummingbirds will also respond to a feeder, which can be purchased at most major gardening stores. Put the feeder high enough over the garden so you can see the Hummingbird when it comes to visit, and you've got a sure-fire way of attracting these beautiful birds to your backyard.

The Ruby Throated Hummingbird mating season usually begins in April and will last until the middle of July. The female of the species will lay only two eggs, which will hatch after only 11 days. Once they hatch, they will be fed various types of small insects until they are old enough to fledge, typically two to three weeks after hatching. An interesting side note, this is the only hummingbird species known to breed east of the Mississippi River.