Archilochus colubris
Gardens and woodland edges in the East and Midwest in summer. Winters farther south. No useful track.
What does a ruby-throated hummingbird look like?
Green above, white below, long bill. The male’s throat flashes red.
What do ruby-throated hummingbird tracks look like?
Hummingbirds do not leave tracks you can use. The bird at a feeder or a tubular flower is the identification.
- No useful track
- Tiny green bird at a flower or a feeder
- Male has a ruby throat that can look black
- Long thin bill
- Nest is a tiny lichen cup
What does ruby-throated hummingbird poop look like?
Tiny dark drops on a feeder, rarely noticed. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Gardens and woodland edges in the East and Midwest in summer. Winters farther south. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not approach a nest
- If a bird is injured, call a local wildlife rehabilitator
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- American goldfinch identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
Do hummingbirds leave tracks?
No track you can identify. Look for the bird at a flower or a feeder.
How to tell a ruby-throated hummingbird from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- American goldfinch. Not useful alone. Summer male is the yellow bird with a black forehead.
Ruby-throated hummingbird field marks
- No useful track
- Tiny green bird at a flower or a feeder
- Male has a ruby throat that can look black
- Long thin bill
Where the sign shows up
Gardens and woodland edges in the East and Midwest in summer. Winters farther south. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
Hummingbirds do not leave tracks you can use. The bird at a feeder or a tubular flower is the identification. Tiny dark drops on a feeder, rarely noticed.
Common questions
Do hummingbirds leave tracks?
No track you can identify. Look for the bird at a flower or a feeder.