Hummingbird Migration: Citizen Scientists Track Hummingbird Migration with Journey North

Hummingbirds

Migration News: March 4, 2016
By Mary Hosier

Aaaand...we're off! First Ruby-throat sightings in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi came in this week. Watch the Gulf region as winds shift from north to south bringing pulses of birds across from Mexico.

Rufous in winter
Males Arrive First

Highlights: First Sightings

Most first sightings of hummingbirds are males. Along the Gulf Coast, where some Ruby-throats overwinter, hummingbird bander Nancy Newfield describes how she can tell if an early bird is a migrant.

"Sparkling and bright" is how Nancy describes the plumage of a migrant male Ruby-throat in late winter or early spring. "Wintering adult males are still molting. Their wing, tail, and contour feathers will be quite dull by comparison."

Mount Dora, Florida
"I saw a male ruby-throated hummingbird darting around red passion vine blossoms and then quickly fly up through the tree tops. It was a clear sunny day in Central Florida around 10:30am."
02/28/16

Rufous Migration
Mostly males are being reported as the first birds seen this spring in the Pacific Northwest.

Cannon Beach, Oregon
"The Rufous have returned and the resident male Anna's are not happy. Fighting started immediately and hasn't stopped for 2 hours. I put a fresh feeder out and when they take a break from battle, they eat like little lumberjacks. I love this time of year!"
02/29/16

Males Sparring

Strong Flight Feathers

Watch the Winds

Rufous Spring Migration

The Rufous Hummingbird makes one of the longest migratory journeys of any hummingbird in the world. During spring migration, it travels almost 4,000 miles from Mexico to Alaska. This is a marathon journey for a bird that weighs less than two U.S. pennies.

Long Distance Traveler The Rufous Hummingbird makes one of the longest migratory journeys of any hummingbird in the world. During spring migration, it travels almost 4,000 miles from Mexico to Alaska. This is a marathon journey for a bird that weighs less than two U.S. pennies.

The Rufous begins migration from the wintering grounds as early as January. Traveling along the Pacific Coast, they reach the northernmost point of the breeding range in Alaska by mid-May.

Coastal Route The Rufous begins migration from the wintering grounds as early as January. Traveling along the Pacific Coast, they reach the northernmost point of the breeding range in Alaska by mid-May.

By March 20th, Rufous Hummingbirds are already entering Canada. At the same time, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are in the southern United States, along the Gulf Coast. Measuring by latitude, the Rufous is 1,000 miles farther north than the Ruby-throat on the first day of spring. How can such similar birds have such different migration patterns?

First Day of Spring By March 20th, Rufous Hummingbirds are already entering Canada. At the same time, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are in the southern United States, along the Gulf Coast. Measuring by latitude, the Rufous is 1,000 miles farther north than the Ruby-throat on the first day of spring. How can such similar birds have such different migration patterns?

Rufous Hummingbirds are well adapted to cold temperatures. This allows them to migrate into areas where night time temperatures in early spring may drop below freezing. They can survive sudden cold and snows typical in springtime. Rufous Hummingbirds routinely go into torpor at night, probably because it may freeze at night even in July in their nesting grounds in Canada and Alaska.

Adapted for Cold Rufous Hummingbirds are well adapted to cold temperatures. This allows them to migrate into areas where night time temperatures in early spring may drop below freezing. They can survive sudden cold and snows typical in springtime. Rufous Hummingbirds routinely go into torpor at night, probably because it may freeze at night even in July in their nesting grounds in Canada and Alaska.

Rufous travel with warm temperatures along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska. Cold temperatures in eastern North America prevent Ruby-throats from moving as far north as early as Rufous.

Spring Temperatures Rufous travel with warm temperatures along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska. Cold temperatures in eastern North America prevent Ruby-throats from moving as far north as early as Rufous.

By early April, an interesting pattern emerges on the map. As temperatures warm inland, the migration expands eastward — away from the coast — toward the Rocky Mountains. Throughout migration, the Rufous Hummingbird migrates into areas where warm temperatures have produced the spring flowers and other foods it needs.

Moving Inland By early April, an interesting pattern emerges on the map. As temperatures warm inland, the migration expands eastward — away from the coast — toward the Rocky Mountains. Throughout migration, the Rufous Hummingbird migrates into areas where warm temperatures have produced the spring flowers and other foods it needs.

How will this spring's temperatures affect the timing and patterns of hummingbird migration? Report your observations.Track the migration.

Track and Predict How will this spring's temperatures affect the timing and patterns of hummingbird migration? Report your observations.Track the migration.

Journal

Report Your Sightings


What to Report	Ruby-throated map \| animation \| sightings	Rufous map \| animation \| sightings

Other Species map \| animation \| sightings	Other Observations map \| list	Nectaring map \| list

Next Update March 11, 2016