Ruby-throated Hummingbird eggs
White, unmarked, about 0.51–0.55 inches long — about 56% of the width of a US quarter. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird lays 1–3 eggs (usually 2), and they hatch after 12–14 days.
- Color
- White, unmarked
- Length
- 0.51–0.55 in (13–14 mm)
- Width
- 0.31–0.39 in (8–10 mm)
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–3 eggs (usually 2)
- Incubation
- 12–14 days
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Nest
- Walnut-sized cup of plant down bound with spider silk, saddled on a downward-sloping branch
How to recognise a Ruby-throated Hummingbird egg
- Color: white, unmarked. There are no markings on a fresh egg, though eggs pick up stains from the nest as incubation goes on.
- Size: 13–14 mm long by 8–10 mm wide. For scale, a US quarter is 24.3 mm across, so this egg is about 56% of the width of a US quarter.
- Where you find it: walnut-sized cup of plant down bound with spider silk, saddled on a downward-sloping branch. Ruby-throated hummingbirds do not normally use nest boxes.
- Clutch: 1–3 eggs (usually 2). A nest with far more eggs than this may hold eggs from two females, or a cowbird egg laid by a brood parasite.
Eggs that look similar
These species lay eggs in the same color group, sorted by how close they are in length. Size and nest site usually settle it.
| Species | Egg | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | white, unmarked | 13–14 mm |
| Anna's Hummingbird | white, unmarked | 12–14 mm |
| Tree Swallow | pure white, unmarked | 17–20 mm |
| Indigo Bunting | white or pale bluish, usually unmarked | 17–20 mm |
| Downy Woodpecker | white, unmarked | 19–20 mm |
When ruby-throated hummingbirds lay eggs, state by state
Laying starts earliest in Florida (Mar) and latest in Alberta (Jun). Months are estimates from regional breeding data shifted for latitude.
| State / province | Nesting season |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Apr–Aug |
| Alberta | Jun–Aug |
| Arkansas | May–Aug |
| Connecticut | May–Aug |
| Delaware | May–Aug |
| Florida | Mar–Jul |
| Georgia | Apr–Aug |
| Illinois | May–Aug |
| Indiana | May–Aug |
| Iowa | May–Aug |
| Kansas | May–Aug |
| Kentucky | May–Aug |
| Louisiana | Apr–Aug |
| Maine | Jun–Aug |
| Manitoba | Jun–Aug |
| Maryland | May–Aug |
| Massachusetts | May–Aug |
| Michigan | May–Aug |
| Minnesota | Jun–Aug |
| Mississippi | Apr–Aug |
| Missouri | May–Aug |
| Nebraska | May–Aug |
| New Brunswick | Jun–Aug |
| New Hampshire | Jun–Aug |
| New Jersey | May–Aug |
| New York | May–Aug |
| North Carolina | Apr–Aug |
| North Dakota | Jun–Aug |
| Nova Scotia | Jun–Aug |
| Ohio | May–Aug |
| Oklahoma | May–Aug |
| Ontario | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | May–Aug |
| Quebec | Jun–Aug |
| Rhode Island | May–Aug |
| Saskatchewan | Jun–Aug |
| South Carolina | Apr–Aug |
| South Dakota | May–Aug |
| Tennessee | May–Aug |
| Texas | Mar–Aug |
| Vermont | Jun–Aug |
| Virginia | May–Aug |
| West Virginia | May–Aug |
| Wisconsin | Jun–Aug |
From egg to fledgling
Eggs hatch after 12–14 days and the young leave 18–22 days later. See the full baby Ruby-throated Hummingbird guide for nestling stages and what to do if you find one on the ground.
Found eggs in your yard?
- Leave them. Parents often step away for long stretches, especially before the full clutch is laid, because most songbirds do not start incubating until the last or second-to-last egg.
- A single egg on the ground is usually lost for good. Eggs cannot be hatched at home, and possession of native bird eggs is illegal without a permit.
- If a nest is somewhere inconvenient, wait it out. Most small songbirds are done in three to five weeks.
- Watch from a distance and keep pets indoors. Repeated visits can lead predators to the nest.
Questions
Frequently asked
What color are Ruby-throated Hummingbird eggs?
White, unmarked.
How big is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird egg?
About 0.51–0.55 in long and 0.31–0.39 in wide (13–14 × 8–10 mm) — about 56% of the width of a US quarter.
How many eggs does a Ruby-throated Hummingbird lay?
1–3 eggs (usually 2) per clutch, usually one egg a day, with 1–2 per season.
How long until Ruby-throated Hummingbird eggs hatch?
Incubation takes 12–14 days. The young then stay in the nest 18–22 days — about 30–36 days from incubation to leaving.
Can I move or touch a Ruby-throated Hummingbird nest with eggs?
No. Native birds, their nests and eggs are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Wait until the young have left before removing an old nest.
Sources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird life history
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.