Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Abundance: Fairly Common, sometimes becoming Common, usually during late summer and early fall, at locations with abundant flowers and/or feeders.

Status: Summer Resident; recorded in all Regional counties; photographs.

Regional High Count and FBC/FBB High Count: 137 (20 September 2008; Putnam County [FBC], Tennessee; m. ob.); SBC/SBB High Count: 51 (12 May 2007, Putnam County [SBC], Tennessee; m. ob.).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Early Spring: 28 March 2007 (1; DeKalb County, Tennessee; John Milligan fide Michele Ramsey).

    Late Fall: 9 November 2006 (1; Putnam County, Tennessee; Barbara H. Stedman, Stephen J. Stedman).

    Note: Regional dates of earliest reported spring arrival and latest reported fall departure for the years 2001-2010 follow:

Breeding: Confirmed (Recent).

Habitat: x

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: There were 68 registrations (of 125 possible) during 2003 and 103 registrations (of 206 possible) during 2004, reflecting the fact that this hummingbird is Common in the Region in yards and neighborhoods, primarily because so many observers and members of the public put out feeders to attract it or plant flowering vegetation that is attractive to it.

Foray Results: Abundance and distribution based on UCR Foray data are mapped as follows:

• Clinton County Foray--12-14 June 2009
• Jackson County Foray--29 May-1 June 2009
• Pickett County Foray--22-25 May 2009
• DeKalb County Foray--23-26 May 2008
• White County Foray--28-31 May 1982
• White County Foray--25-28 May 2007

Remarks: Albino individuals were photographed in Barren County, Kentucky (July-August 2006), and DeKalb County, Tennessee (October 2009).

Counties with Observations (boldfaced):

To see a map (Figure 1) displaying data about this species, click on the boldfaced word in this sentence.

Literature Cited