Hummingbirds are a backyard favorite in the United States. Each year many of us look forward to their return in the spring, and spend the warm months putting out nectar and flowers to feed them. But as summer turns to fall, our tiny friends begin their long journey back to their wintering grounds and disappear from our yards. Where do hummingbirds go in the winter? How long is their migration? Do all hummingbirds travel to the same place?
In this article we dive into these questions and more.
Where do Hummingbirds Go In The Winter?
In general, hummingbirds that spend their summers in the United States will winter in Mexico and Central America. Some don’t venture quite as far as others. In this article we will look at the most common U.S. species of hummingbirds and talk about where and when each of them migrates.
Some hummingbirds do decide to stick around all winter in the U.S., or end up migrating much later than they usually would. If you have hummingbirds still visiting your yard when the temperatures get really cold, check out this article to find out how hummingbirds deal with the cold and tips for keeping your nectar from freezing.
Why do hummingbirds migrate?
Hummingbirds diet consists mainly of flower nectar and small insects, and they migrate to follow the food. Flowers and insects are abundant in the U.S. during the spring and summer, but as the weather turns cooler and those food sources become more scarce, they travel south to warmer climates where food is still plentiful.
True, they could just stay in areas closer to the equator that are fairly warm year-round, however competition for food and territory in the tropics can get fierce. There are other hummingbird species in Mexico and Central America that don’t migrate, so by heading north they can avoid some squabbles over limited resources.
How do hummingbirds know when to migrate?
You may think the air temperature or noticing changes in food supply is how they decide. While that may be true in the case of moving short distances, for the big migration it is actually something else. What hummingbirds are noticing is the change in daylight hours.
The amount of time the sun is up during the day changes slowly throughout the year on a predictable cycle. It’s basically nature’s calendar. As the daylight hours get shorter after the peak of summer, hummingbirds can tell when it’s time to move on. So don’t worry about leaving your hummingbird feeder out “too late” in the season, it won’t confuse them about when it’s time to head south.
Migration routes of 12 of the most common hummingbirds
Let’s take a look at the migration routes of some common hummingbirds found in the United States, and where they spend their winters.
1. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Medium to Long-Distance Migrant
Fall Migration: September – November
Spring Migration: March – May
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common hummingbird in the eastern half of the country. Some of the ruby’s from Canada will make a trip of over 2,000 miles to get to their wintering grounds in Central America. In the fall, they head south by either crossing over the Gulf of Mexico or traveling down through Texas, especially the eastern coast. They start to leave the northern states in mid-Septembe