06/08/2026
That ruby-colored throat (gorget) on a Ruby-throated hummingbird only lights up red in the sun. The feathers on the throat aren’t just dyed red—they’re built with microscopic layered structures that reflect specific wavelengths of light. When sunlight hits at the right angle, those structures reflect red light back to your eyes—you see that brilliant ruby flash. Took this photo just before the storm when dark clouds blotted out the sky and you can see the feathers aren’t red.
