Hummingbird Migration: Citizen Scientists Track Hummingbird Migration with Journey North

Hummingbirds

Migration News: March 18, 2016
By Mary Hosier

Hungry hummingbirds continue along their migration looking for food to fuel their journeys. Do you think your outdoor habitat is ready for hummingbirds?

rufous in pollen
Hummingbirds arrive when their habitat is ready. Alandra

Habitat Ready?

Ruby-throats are appearing in greater numbers along the Gulf States. They arrive hungry after losing about half their body weight during migration. Migration proceeds at an average rate of about 20 miles per day, generally following the earliest blooming of flowers.

"First Ruby-throat, welcome home!" exclaimed Mike from Buda, Texas on March 16th.

"The morning of March 16th a Ruby-throat male passed about 10 feet above me, not stopping on his journey northward. It took me by surprise because Rufous are usually here first," Beverly reported from Houston, Texas.

Rufous Migration
Watch for the Rufous to begin moving again after a week of on-and-off stormy weather.

"Saw my first Rufous of the season this afternoon at Sproat Lake, British Columbia," Al reported March 16th from his location at 49°N.

Nectar

Protein

Fueling Migration
How Hummingbirds Keep their Engines Running

Fueling Migration How do hummers keep their engines running?

Hummingbirds use a lot of energy. Their wings can flap 200 times a second! Hummingbirds burn energy so fast that they need to eat 1.5 to 3 times their weight in food each day.

Eating for Energy Hummingbirds use a lot of energy. Their wings can flap 200 times a second! Hummingbirds burn energy so fast that they need to eat 1.5 to 3 times their weight in food each day.

Nectar from Flowers Hummingbirds find fast fuel in flower nectar. The sweet fluid flows up their long, grooved tongues and into their mouths.

Your backyard feeders can also give hummingbirds a quick source of energy. Good thing, too, because they may need to "gas up" every 15 minutes throughout the day!

Nectar from Feeders Your backyard feeders can also give hummingbirds a quick source of energy. Good thing, too, because they may need to "gas up" every 15 minutes throughout the day!

Hummingbirds eat both plant and animal material. These tiny omnivores get protein and fat from insects and small spiders. The hummingbirds will need this slow-burning energy to fuel their long migrations.

More than Nectar Hummingbirds eat both plant and animal material. These tiny omnivores get protein and fat from insects and small spiders. The hummingbirds will need this slow-burning energy to fuel their long migrations.

When food sources are scarce hummingbirds get a little help from their friends. These savvy birds feed on the sweet sap from small holes drilled in trees by yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Hummers also dine on insects stuck in the sap.

Savvy Survivors When food sources are scarce hummingbirds get a little help from their friends. These savvy birds feed on the sweet sap from small holes drilled in trees by yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Hummers also dine on insects stuck in the sap.

At night, and when it is too cold or rainy to find food, hummingbirds go into a sleep-like state called torpor. The bird's body temperature to drop and their heart rate to slow down. This adaptation allows hummers to conserve energy.

Conserving Energy At night, and when it is too cold or rainy to find food, hummingbirds go into a sleep-like state called torpor. The bird's body temperature to drop and their heart rate to slow down. This adaptation allows hummers to conserve energy.

Take a look outside. Do you think your outdoor habitat is ready for hummingbirds? Identify places where hummers might find the food they need to keep their engines running.

Your Backyard Habitat Take a look outside. Do you think your outdoor habitat is ready for hummingbirds? Identify places where hummers might find the food they need to keep their engines running.

Hummingbirds burn lots of fuel to keep their wings beating up to 200 times a second. Explore the kinds of food hummers need and how they conserve energy for long migrations.

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 25, 2016