March Is Here

March 1, 2022 by Team Journey North

Spring is under three weeks away. Hummingbird migration activity is low but that's normal during the early stages of the season. Things can change quickly! Report your hummingbird observations to Journey North.

“First Anna’s Hummingbird of the season.” Photo: Tami in Rosemead, CA

Rufous and Ruby-throats

Rufous Hummingbirds are already making their way up the West Coast, with reports coming from as far north as Washington. How does this compare to previous years? Explore our Rufous Hummingbird map to find out.

Scott in Lopez Island, WA: “Late morning observation. Male Rufous drinking at nectar feeder. Chased off by male Anna’s hummingbird. Eventually Rufous came back, but soon got chased off again by male Anna’s. This is about 1.5 to 2 weeks early for an average Rufous sighting…..usually seen between March 8 and 15th.” (02/26/2022)

Sandra in Mendocino, CA: “Male Rufous feeding on grevillea in our gardens. Saw one yesterday up the coast at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens, but this is the first sighting of the year in our home gardens.” (02/28/2022)

Most Ruby-throated Hummingbird activity is concentrated in Florida, and there are a few scattered reports up through North Carolina. During this early period of migration, it can be difficult to determine if a first observation is actually a first observation of a migrating hummingbird and not a hummingbird that is overwintering. Please share if you think you’ve observed a migrating hummingbird or a winter resident. And if you’re uncertain, please let us know.

Alice in Newport, NC: “At 11:30, we observed a male Ruby-throat at our feeder…do not know if he’s our male we haven’t seen for a month but as we reported yesterday, we have 2 female/juveniles who are still here.” (02/19/2022)

Call For Photos

If possible, please include photos in your reports. Photos are always helpful; they aid in identification and shed light on behavior. However, hummingbirds are not always cooperative subjects. One potential workaround is to take a video and then extract a screenshot to use as a photo. Learn more in the tutorials below:

Watch the Weather 

Spring weather can be extremely variable. Weather affects the flight of hummingbirds as they make their way north. Temperature, wind patterns, and storms can influence the pace of migration. Explore Windy.com to see how current conditions in your area may impact hummingbird migration.

Spring Migration: What to Report

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Report under the category: Hummingbird, Ruby-throated (FIRST) 
  • Rufous Hummingbirds. Report under the category: Hummingbird, Rufous (FIRST)
  • Other Species Sighted. Report under the category: Hummingbird, Other Species Sighted
  • Other Observations. Report under the category: Hummingbird (OTHER Observations)
  • Hummingbirds Nectaring From Flowers. Report under the category: Hummingbird, Nectaring from Flowers