The ruby-throated hummingbird is a small bird. It drinks nectar from flowers through its long bill. These birds are so small, they don’t weigh much more than a penny.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds got their name because the males have ruby red throats. The females do not.

The female ruby-throated hummingbird makes her nest in the springtime.

It is one of the most unusual nests in the bird world. It is also one of the most amazing. She builds her tiny nest out of spider webs. Spider silk is soft and can stretch. Her nest starts out the size of a walnut, but it can grow as the chicks grow.

It takes a lot of spider silk to build each a ruby-throated hummingbird nest. The female attaches lichen to the outside of the nest to camouflage it. Lichen are small flat plants that grow on rocks and trees. Lichen look a bit like moss.

Once she’s finished her nest, it’s time to lay the eggs. She will lay between one and three pea-sized eggs.

Ruby-throated hummingbird nests are pretty difficult to find. Have you ever seen one? They make their nests on tree branches. The nests are so small and so well camouflaged that they often look like part of the tree. Now that you know what to look for, maybe you’ll be able to spot one next spring!