COLOR-MARKING HUMMINGBIRDS

After the hummingbird has been banded and measured, it can be released. However, as part of Operation RubyThroat, hummingbirds banded at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History are also color-marked with a non-toxic temporary dye. Using a GREEN permanent non-toxic marker, the bander dyes the upper breast and throat of each bird. Hilton Pond Center is the ONLY organization permitted to mark Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (RTHU) in this way.


All text and photos ©
Bill Hilton Jr.

 A young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (left) marked on upper breast and throat with GREEN dye. The dye is non-toxic and typically wears off after 1-2 months. Also visible in the photo are a few of the red throat feathers that will continue to molt in over the winter.

This mark serves two functions. First, since many banded hummingbirds will re-enter a pull-string or electronic trap again and again, the color marking tells the bander the bird is already banded and the string needn't be pulled. Perhaps of greater importance is the color marking can also be seen by other observers at other locations to which RTHU might travel.

Side view of a young female Ruby-throated Hummingbird that has been marked with GREEN dye. Sightings of these color-marked hummingbirds should be reported immediately to Operation RubyThroat via Bill Hilton Jr.


All text and photos © Bill Hilton Jr.

As part of Operation RubyThroat, hummingbirds banded at locations other than Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History may or may not get color-marked. However, each August for "Hummingbird Mornings" at other locations in the eastern U.S., RTHU may be banded and marked on the upper breast and throat with other colors, including BLACK, BROWN, RED, or PURPLE. (Hummingbirds with bright orange or yellow throats are probably carrying pollen.)

In addition, RTHU banded on our winter research site in Costa Rica are color-marked in January and February with BRIGHT BLUE (left). These birds may retain color long enough to be seen during spring migration by observers in the southern U.S.

Any sightings of color-marked birds anywhere in North or Central America should be reported immediately to the Bird Banding Lab at 1-800-327-BAND and to Operation RubyThroat via Bill Hilton Jr.

For examples of how color-marking Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) has proved valuable, go to the next section.

Back to Measuring Hummingbirds; forward to Hummingbird Banding Results

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