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Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird was completed on 7.3.2010. Back in 2001, I had completed a line art drawing of one of these birds, but then I still hadn't really settled into a 'post-architecture' style for organic subjects like animals.  So I ditched that version and recreated the one here. The drawing is based on a photo by Mary Fran.

Information about the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird:

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is a member of the Trochilidae family. This is a small bird, growing to about  3.5" (8.5cm) in length from tip of bill to tip of tail. They are a common hummingbird, found throughout most of the eastern part of North America, south into Central and even in South America. It stretches further west in Canada nearly into British Columbia. The wing beats of this bird is incredible, flapping about 60-80 times per second in normal flight, and up to 200 times per second in courtship dives. They are also very fast, with speeds of up to 25 MPH (40KPH) but what's more remarkable is their heartbeats, which on average beats about 250 times per minute while at rest, about 1,220 per minute while flying. They feed on the nectar from flowers and flowering trees, but will occasionally add small insects and tree sap to its diet.