A ruby-throated hummingbird (also nicknamed "the hummingbird") is one of the smallest birds in this vast world. With such a small size, a hummingbird's survival is an even bigger challenge. With over 300 birds in its family, 51 hummingbird species are on the endangered species list. The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a species of hummingbird that Michiganders are most familiar with. The taxonomic classification of the hummingbird is as follows: its kingdom is Animalia; its Phylum is Chordata (animals equipped with notochords); The Subphylum is Verbrata (the spinal cord of animals is protected) its Class is Aves (birds); its Order is Apodiformes; its family is Trochilidae; his gender is Archilochus; and its species is Colubris. (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/ruby-throat-hummingbird) Hummingbirds are pleasant and fun to watch because they have high speeds and fly straight, stop quickly, and fly upside down and backwards with precision. In the book North American Wildlife, Marshall Cavendish (2011) states, “A hummingbird's wings are connected only at the shoulder joint and therefore can move in all directions, allowing the bird to hover while feeding” (p.109 ). The flapping of its wings imitates the sound of bees, hence the nickname hummingbird. In the book Birds of Michigan, Ted Black and Gregory Kennedy (2003) state that “weighing as much as a dime, a hummingbird is capable of briefly reaching speeds of up to 62 miles per hour” (p.180). A male Ruby Red-throated Hummingbird has a bright fiery red throat, kaleidoscope green back, forked tail with gray and white underside. The females do not have such striking colors, they lack the red throat and their tails are blunt, with...... middle of paper......a great adventure. But a hummingbird's journey of survival is an even greater mission. Works Cited Black, T., Kennedy, G (2003). Birds of Michigan. (page 180). Auburn, WA: Lone Pine Publishing.Brooks, B. (1989). On the wing. New York, New York: Sons of Charles Scribner. Cavendish, M. (2011). North American wildlife. (page 109). New York: reference to Marshall Cavendish. DOI: www.marshallcavendish.usDangers to Hummingbirds (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.theworldofhummingbirds.com/dangers.phpHainsworth R., Ph.D., Wolf, L. Ph.D. (May 1993). Hummingbird feeding. Retrieved from http://www.hummingbirds.net/hainsworth.htmlHummingbirds' journey north. (n.d.) (Ecology, Q8) Retrieved from http://Hummingbirds Journey North Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris. (n.d.) Photo credit: Lubeck, R. Retrieved from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/ruby-throat-hummingbird