Month by month, where are Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and what are they doing? Explore the annual cycle to discover how these tiny birds respond to the seasons. (Use the expand tool to view larger images and read entire captions.)

Each year when Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate north, they arrive on the breeding grounds with one main focus—producing a successful new generation. This involves several critical steps.

Everybody loves hummingbirds, so the last thing we want to do is to harm them. Do not use red-dye solution or add red food coloring in your hummingbird feeders.

Toxic Chemicals
Commercial nectars contain a petroleum-based dye, Red Dye #40. Although this dye is approved by the FDA in the United States, there is enough uncertainty about the safety of Red Dye #40 that it is banned in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland.