Western ruby-throated hummingbird

The **western ruby-throated hummingbird** (*Selasphorus californianus*) is a species of hummingbird that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the temperate, boreal, and alpine rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, scrublands, and deserts across California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, British Columbia, and western Mexico (including Baja California) to help boost biodiversity. Despite its name and appearance, the western ruby-throated hummingbird is not closely related to the eastern ruby-throated hummingbird (*Archilochus colubris*) and is actually most closely related to the broad-tailed hummingbird (*Selasphorus platycercus*). Medium in size, the western ruby-throated hummingbird is 4 inches (10 centimeters) in length and possesses an overall wingspan of 5.25 inches (13.3 centimeters). Weighing around 3.6 grams (0.13 oz), the female tends to be slightly larger than the male. Adults of both sexes show an iridescent green back, white eye ring and a rounded black tail projecting beyond their wing tips. This species shows sexual dimorphism, which means that male and female have different characteristics. The male possesses a characteristic bright ruby-red gorget, hence its name. An identification characteristic is the white eye ring. The female can be distinguished from the male by her paler coloration, cinnamon flanks, and spotted cheeks absent in the male. This species exhibits partial migration, depending on the northern range during winter. The migrating populations winter in southern United States and in Mexico or Guatemala and return to their breeding area in spring. Males arrive first to the breeding range, followed by breeding females. Some populations of the western ruby-throated hummingbird in Mexico and Guatemala do not migrate, a variation in behavior called "sedentary". The diet of the western ruby-throated hummingbirds consists mainly of insects and nectar of plants that are “hummingbird-flowered”. The western ruby-throated hummingbird has a promiscuous mating system and does not form a pair bond. The reproduction time for western ruby-throated hummingbirds correlated with the time flower production is at its peak. Male perform an aerial display to attract females during the breeding season. Males will fly high and dive while producing a trill sound with their wing feathers. In 70% of cases, females return to their nest site from one year to the next. Females build their nest alone, without the male help. The overall nest construction may take around 4 to 5 days. The nest has an overall cup shape and is stuck to a tree branch with spider webs, camouflaged by the addition of an external layer of lichen, moss, and tree material. Nest material can be stolen by other females for the construction of a nest. The female will lay two white eggs of around 1.2–1.5 centimetres (0.47–0.59 inches) in length and incubate them alone for around 16 to 19 days. Nest cup diameter increases as the chicks age. Chicks are altricial at their hatch, and will take around 10 to 12 days for feathering. The female will stay with the fledged young up to several weeks. The conservation status of the western ruby-throated hummingbird is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts, western ruby-throated hummingbird's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.