Hummingbird Migration: Citizen Scientists Track Hummingbird Migration with Journey North

Hummingbirds

Migration News: March 11, 2016
By Mary Hosier

Early migrants continue to arrive along the Gulf Coast, though March weather can make this a risky trip for Ruby-throats.

By February, Rubythroats get a little restless in response to hormonal changes that are triggered by changing length of daylight. The first birds start migrating north the end of February.

Migration is On

Early birds have surprised observers.

"Not sure why! It's WAY too early, but a hummingbird came to my window where I usually have a hanging feeder," reported Debra on 02/29 from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.

"I saw my first hummingbird this morning. Must have been a scout. On March 2nd, he came to the back yard looking for feeders, went to front yard and then was gone," reported Melody from Mount Ida, Arkansas.

Rufous Migration
The leading edge of the Rufous migration is now at the Canadian border. Citizen scientists reported several in British Columbia this week.

"First Rufous seen 03/08/16 just southeast of John Dean Provincial Park in North Saanich on south Vancouver Island," reported Dana from British Columbia.

Wind, Rain, and Migration
Weather conditions for migration include more than just the wind. Take a look at the wind and rain maps. Was March 10th a good day for Ruby-throat migration from Mexico?

Feisty Arrival

Black-chins Arrive

Conditions in the Gulf

Annual Cycle of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird

During January, the vast majority of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are on their wintering grounds in the Southern Hemisphere. Hummingbirds aren't the only feisty birds there, so they have to tone it down a bit. They are getting fresh new feathers and molting, but they still need to visit hundreds of flowers every day.

January: Basking in the Tropics During January, the vast majority of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are on their wintering grounds in the Southern Hemisphere. Hummingbirds aren't the only feisty birds there, so they have to tone it down a bit. They are getting fresh new feathers and molting, but they still need to visit hundreds of flowers every day.

By February, Rubythroats get a little restless in response to hormonal changes that are triggered by changing length of daylight. The first birds start migrating north the end of February.

February: Growing Restless By February, Rubythroats get a little restless in response to hormonal changes that are triggered by changing length of daylight. The first birds start migrating north the end of February.

In March migration is underway. Hummingbirds can't afford to be in too much of a hurry when they return to their breeding range in spring. There has to be food all along the way due to their tiny size and high metabolism.

March: Heading North In March migration is underway. Hummingbirds can't afford to be in too much of a hurry when they return to their breeding range in spring. There has to be food all along the way due to their tiny size and high metabolism.

Males arrive first and establish a territory. They look for a place with many flowers and high perches. They show off with flight displays, diving, dipping and looping to attract a female to their territory. Breeding begins in the southern states where flowers are in full bloom, and where the first egg can be laid as early as the second week in April.

April: Full Speed Ahead - Peak Migration Males arrive first and establish a territory. They look for a place with many flowers and high perches. They show off with flight displays, diving, dipping and looping to attract a female to their territory. Breeding begins in the southern states where flowers are in full bloom, and where the first egg can be laid as early as the second week in April.

In May, hummingbirds are still reaching the northernmost parts of their vast breeding range. Although it takes her 5 or 6 days to build her waterproof, camouflaged, stretchy nest isn't much bigger than a coin. The male has one job, but it's really important: keeping everything else away from the flowers. Females need quick access to food to get back on the nest so the eggs don't chill.

May: Getting Down to Nesting In May, hummingbirds are still reaching the northernmost parts of their vast breeding range. Although it takes her 5 or 6 days to build her waterproof, camouflaged, stretchy nest isn't much bigger than a coin. The male has one job, but it's really important: keeping everything else away from the flowers. Females need quick access to food to get back on the nest so the eggs don't chill.

In June, a female hummingbird is busy! She does it all: lays and incubates two eggs, broods the babies in the nest, feeds them small insects and spiders, leads them to good flowers after they fledge, and keeps feeding them until they are independent. They fledge the nest at 21 or 22 days. A female may raise 2 or even 3 broods in a summer.

June: Raising Babies In June, a female hummingbird is busy! She does it all: lays and incubates two eggs, broods the babies in the nest, feeds them small insects and spiders, leads them to good flowers after they fledge, and keeps feeding them until they are independent. They fledge the nest at 21 or 22 days. A female may raise 2 or even 3 broods in a summer.

July is busy on the breeding grounds. Females are feeding their growing babies. Meanwhile, males are putting on the fat. Fewer hours of sunlight trigger the urge to migrate as fall approaches, and males leave first. Some will start migration in mid-July. Hummingbirds migrate at the time when their food is most plentiful, and they can more than double their weight before migration. By leaving first, males are ensuring more insects and nectar available for the babies.

July: A Busy Time July is busy on the breeding grounds. Females are feeding their growing babies. Meanwhile, males are putting on the fat. Fewer hours of sunlight trigger the urge to migrate as fall approaches, and males leave first. Some will start migration in mid-July. Hummingbirds migrate at the time when their food is most plentiful, and they can more than double their weight before migration. By leaving first, males are ensuring more insects and nectar available for the babies.

August brings the biggest push south, and hummingbirds are gathering in huge numbers along the Gulf of Mexico. By August you may see no males at your feeders. Juvenile Rubythroats look so much like their mothers that most of us can't tell the difference. The babies have no memory of past migrations. They do not migrate with a parent. They just follow their urge to put on a lot of weight, fly in a southerly direction for a certain amount of time, and find a good place to spend winter.

August: Peak Migration August brings the biggest push south, and hummingbirds are gathering in huge numbers along the Gulf of Mexico. By August you may see no males at your feeders. Juvenile Rubythroats look so much like their mothers that most of us can't tell the difference. The babies have no memory of past migrations. They do not migrate with a parent. They just follow their urge to put on a lot of weight, fly in a southerly direction for a certain amount of time, and find a good place to spend winter.

By late August and early September, the southward migration peaks. By mid-September, the Rubythroats at feeders are migrating through from farther north, and are not the same individuals seen in the summer. Adults are still arriving down at the Gulf Coast. The only Rubythroats still in the northern half of their breeding range are young ones. They must build up fat and flight muscles. These birds have no migration history. They do not migrate with a parent. They just follow their urge to put on a lot of weight, and leave when they are fat.

September: Action Everywhere By late August and early September, the southward migration peaks. By mid-September, the Rubythroats at feeders are migrating through from farther north, and are not the same individuals seen in the summer. Adults are still arriving down at the Gulf Coast. The only Rubythroats still in the northern half of their breeding range are young ones. They must build up fat and flight muscles. These birds have no migration history. They do not migrate with a parent. They just follow their urge to put on a lot of weight, and leave when they are fat.

In October, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are on their wintering grounds. All of the arrivals from the north now face more competition for food. The babies have not been to the tropics before. They must adjust to new dangers they never imagined. Here the young hummers must learn about army ants and many different predatory insects. Snakes lurking in trees or slithering by flowers are their enemies. Some of the other hummingbirds that live in the tropics can be predators, too.

October: Settling in the Tropics In October, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are on their wintering grounds. All of the arrivals from the north now face more competition for food. The babies have not been to the tropics before. They must adjust to new dangers they never imagined. Here the young hummers must learn about army ants and many different predatory insects. Snakes lurking in trees or slithering by flowers are their enemies. Some of the other hummingbirds that live in the tropics can be predators, too.

In November the hummingbirds are molting, a process that may start as early as October. While on the wintering grounds, all Ruby-throated hummingbirds are losing and replacing their flight and body feathers, including wing feathers. They will need fresh new feathers before migrating north. Hummingbirds have fewer feathers than other birds. Even a tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird has about 940 feathers to keep in order, so it stops flying several times a day to preen. Preening helps keep the feathers clean and aligned.

November: Changing the Feathers In November the hummingbirds are molting, a process that may start as early as October. While on the wintering grounds, all Ruby-throated hummingbirds are losing and replacing their flight and body feathers, including wing feathers. They will need fresh new feathers before migrating north. Hummingbirds have fewer feathers than other birds. Even a tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird has about 940 feathers to keep in order, so it stops flying several times a day to preen. Preening helps keep the feathers clean and aligned.

Hummingbirds on the tropical wintering grounds are focused on feeding and completing their molt. Growing new feathers uses lots of calories, and the tiny hummers need to bulk up again. It's easy when they are surrounded with lush tropical flowers to fuel their insect-catching flights. Meanwhile, some hummingbirds stay along the Gulf coast each winter instead of continuing to Central America. A small population winters in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. No one knows why.

December: Focusing on Food Hummingbirds on the tropical wintering grounds are focused on feeding and completing their molt. Growing new feathers uses lots of calories, and the tiny hummers need to bulk up again. It's easy when they are surrounded with lush tropical flowers to fuel their insect-catching flights. Meanwhile, some hummingbirds stay along the Gulf coast each winter instead of continuing to Central America. A small population winters in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. No one knows why.

Month by month, where are Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and what are they doing? Explore the annual cycle to discover how these tiny birds respond to the seasons.

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 18, 2016