The juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird is an incredible sight to behold. They undergo a remarkable transformation from hatching to fledging.
At hatching, these tiny birds are blind and helpless, weighing in at about 0.06 ounces.
Their eyes take around 10 days to open, and during this time, they rely on their parents for food and warmth.
After about 18-20 days, the young hummingbirds start to get their first juvenile feathers, which are a dull grayish-brown color.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Photos
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Photos are a treasure trove of information.
Young male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can be quite cooperative, keeping to the same perch repeatedly, making it easier to take photos of them.
The immature male hummingbird in the photos was a perfect example of this, returning to the same perch multiple times, allowing the photographer to prefocused and capture hundreds of photos.
Immature Ruby-throated Hummingbirds may keep an eye on the sky, possibly due to other hummingbirds flying past on migration.
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Young male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds spend a lot of time scratching, likely due to new feathers coming in, which can be itchy.
They also spend time preening, feeding on nectar, and paying attention to their surroundings.
One of the photos shows the young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird holding a pose for over a minute, possibly showing off his newly emerged ruby feathers on his throat.
Physical Characteristics
The juvenile male ruby-throated hummingbird is a sight to behold. Its iridescent feathers on the throat are a dull grayish-white color, lacking the bright red throat patch that will develop later in life.
They have a green back and wings, with a white underside that's speckled with tiny black spots. These tiny birds are a joy to watch.
Juvenile males are slightly larger than females, with a length of about 3.5 inches. Their beaks are long and straight, perfect for sipping nectar from flowers.
Their wings beat at an incredible 80 times per second, making them a blur of motion in the air. This incredible speed allows them to hover in place and even fly backwards.
Their eyes are large and dark, with a black stripe running through the center of each iris. These sharp eyes help them spot nectar-rich flowers from a distance.
In the wild, juvenile males can be found in the same habitats as adults, including gardens, parks, and woodlands.
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Juvenile Stages
Identifying young male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can be a fun challenge.
The pale tan feather edging on their feathers, especially noticeable on their heads, is a quick way to age young birds, whether they are male or female.
Juvenile males have visible differences in gorget development that can help track individual birds.
The differences in gorget development between males can aid in identifying how many young hummingbirds are visiting your feeders.
In the author's experience, the tan feather edging on young males' heads is particularly noticeable.
By observing the development of the gorget feathers, you can get a sense of how many young male hummingbirds are visiting your feeders.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to tell the gender of a baby hummingbird?
To determine the gender of a baby hummingbird, look for the presence or absence of bright throat feathers, as young males may not have them like adult males. However, in some species, it's challenging to tell the difference, making identification tricky.
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