Ruby Throated Hummingbird
"Small but mighty. Delicate but resilient. A flash of brilliance in the sky, here for only a moment, but unforgettable long after they’re gone." - Aida S., Canada
Long before I ever saw a hummingbird, I was captivated by them. The more I learned, the more I marveled at how something so small could be so powerful. Their hearts beat over a thousand times per minute, their wings blur as they hover, and their tiny bodies burn energy at a rate that would be impossible for almost any other creature. They seemed like little miracles—delicate but mighty, fleeting yet unforgettable.
Years later, I would come to know them in a way I never expected. My father had just passed away, though I had not yet received the official news. The next day, outside our house, we found a hummingbird—small, delicate, but beautiful. It had passed, yet it looked peaceful, as if it had simply come to rest. We buried it gently, sadness hanging in the air, though at the time, I thought little of the moment beyond its quiet sorrow.
It wasn’t until months later that I began to notice them. A hummingbird would hover just outside my window, pausing for a few seconds, making eye contact before darting away. It happened often enough that I wondered if it was looking for fresh nectar, so I made sure to provide some. But the visits continued, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to them.
One day, a striking ruby-throated hummingbird appeared. I first noticed it outside one room where I was sitting—it would sip nectar, perch on a nearby tree, then return to hover near my window, as if checking in on me. Again and again, it repeated the cycle. Finally, I stepped outside to be with it, standing in awe as the tiny creature whizzed by, its wings humming like a miniature helicopter. It was so small, so weightless, and yet its presence felt immense.
Later that day, I moved to a different room, and the same hummingbird appeared again—hovering at the window, looking straight at me before flitting away.
Some people say hummingbirds can carry messages from loved ones. Others believe the spirits of those who have passed may return through them. I don’t know what’s true, but I know how I feel. Every time a hummingbird visits, pausing just long enough to make me wonder, it feels like my dad is stopping by to say hello. To let me know he’s near. To remind me that I’m doing okay.
And in those moments, I am reminded why I have always found hummingbirds to be a wonder of the world. Small but mighty. Delicate but resilient. A flash of brilliance in the sky, here for only a moment, but unforgettable long after they’re gone.
More about hummingbirds from the Wonders Team
Hummingbirds are native to the Americas comprising approximately 366 species. They have incredible metabolic capacity and can beat their wings between 12-80 beats per second depending on the species. The ruby throated hummingbird resides in much of North America during the spring and summer and migrates south to the region around Mexico, Costa Rica and the Panama in the fall. Hummingbirds get their name from their characteristic humm sound they make as their wings flap quickly.
The male ruby throated hummingbird has an iridescent ruby throat which may look black depending on the angle of the light. Their bodies are emerald green with a metallic sheen. Females lack the ruby throat and have a white patch on their throat and bellies. These hummingbirds are often found in gardens and along forest edges.
As the earth warms, spring arrives earlier and flowers bloom earlier. For any species dependent on nectar as food, such as these hummingbirds, this early arrival means that they might arrive later than the normal bloom period and miss out on some feeding opportunities.