# How Fast Is A Ruby-throated Hummingbird?

> Ruby-throated Hummingbird top speed is about 50 km/h (30 mph) in flight. Sprint vs endurance and what limits pace.

- **Species:** Ruby-throated Hummingbird (*Archilochus colubris*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Nectarivore (also small insects)
- **Habitat:** Gardens, woodlands, meadows
- **Lifespan:** 3–5 years
- **Top speed:** 50 km/h (30 mph) in flight
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hummingbird/how-fast-is-a-hummingbird/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hummingbird/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a tiny nectar-feeding bird of eastern North America, weighing just 2 to 6 grams, about the same as a penny. It can hover in mid-air and even fly backwards, beating its wings roughly 50 times a second and reaching speeds of 50 km/h (30 mph). Males show a brilliant red throat, and these little birds typically live 3 to 5 years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Ruby-throated Hummingbird profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hummingbird/) instead.

## Size and appearance

The ruby-throated hummingbird is a featherweight, tipping the scales at just 2 to 6 grams and measuring around 9 cm (3.5 in) long. Both sexes have iridescent green backs, but only the adult male sports the dazzling ruby-red throat patch, called a gorget, that gives the species its name. The colour comes from the way light refracts off the feathers rather than from pigment, so it can appear black until it catches the sun.

## Help protect the Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hummingbird/how-fast-is-a-hummingbird/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.