The arrival of hummingbirds is one of the first signs that spring has sprung. These energetic birds make an incredible migration each year, traveling thousands of miles between their winter and summer homes. 

    While instinct guides them, hummingbirds rely on the changing seasons and food sources along their route. If you want to welcome hummingbirds back to your yard, understanding their migration patterns helps you know when to expect them.

    Keep reading to learn more about what to expect when hummingbirds migrate to your home. 


    Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

    The most commonly watched hummingbird species is the colorful and spunky ruby-throated hummingbird.

    Of 300 species of hummingbirds — 16 of which breed in the United States — it’s the most common one seen east of the Mississippi River. Its summer habitat includes the country’s eastern half and southeast Canada.

    Spring hummingbird migration varies yearly, but the following sections will help you prepare for hummingbirds in your area:

    Migration Dates

    Ruby-throated hummingbirds begin arriving in southern states in early February. Sightings gradually move northward through spring. 

    Here are the average first sightings in select areas:

    • Southern Florida: Late January/Early February
    • Northern Florida/Southern Georgia: Mid-February
    • North Carolina: Late March
    • Ohio: Mid-April
    • Massachusetts: Early May
    Today’s Homeowner Tips

    Tracking arrival dates is helpful for homeowners to know when hummingbirds might start appearing in their yard. It allows you to have feeders up and flowers planted ahead of time to welcome them.

    Peak migration occurs from mid-April through May. But some ruby throats linger through the winter in southern climates like Florida and Louisiana. Weather plays a big role in migration timing. Arrival can occur earlier in warm springs or later after cold snaps. 

    Return Migration

    Adult ruby throats migrate south in late summer and early fall before juveniles. Adults start moving south in July from northern states and Canada. Young birds depart later, from August through October.

    By late October, nearly all ruby-throated hummingbirds have left the United States for their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Still, a few stragglers may overwinter in sheltered areas along the Gulf Coast.

    Migration Route

    Ruby throats take different routes going north and south. They follow the Gulf Coast and Atlantic coastline in spring before veering inland. This route allows them to find food supplies along the way.

    In fall, ruby-throats take a more direct path across the Gulf of Mexico nonstop to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. They replenish their energy before the final push to Central America.


    Other Hummingbird Species

    While the ruby-throated hummingbird is the most widespread, other species also migrate through the United States.

    Anna’s hummingbird breeds along the Pacific Coast and has expanded its range east. It’s increasingly spotted in winter and migrates to southwestern states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

    In winter, Anna’s hummingbirds are also found in Florida. A few even summer in Louisiana along the Gulf Coast.

    The feisty rufous hummingbird breeds in the Pacific Northwest and then migrates an incredible 3,000 miles to wintering grounds in Mexico.

    It passes through the Rocky Mountains and Southwest during migration. Rufous hummingbirds arrive in Mexico by November and remain until March or April.

    The tiny Calliope hummingbird breeds in the northwestern U.S. and Canada and migrates through the Rocky Mountains to overwinter in Mexico.

    Calliopes follow wildflowers during migration, stopping in high mountain meadows. They arrive on their breeding grounds by May and leave by late August.

    Black-chinned hummingbirds breed across the western half of the U.S. Most travel to Mexico for winter, while some remain along the Pacific and Gulf Coast.

    During migration, these hummingbirds are widespread across the West. They follow blooming plants northward in spring and southward in fall.


    Attracting Migrating Hummingbirds

    Here are some tips to attract migrating hummingbirds when they arrive in your yard:

    Have nectar feeders filled by early March or earlier in the Gulf Coast states.

    Boil 1 part white sugar with four parts water for easy-to-make fuel. Don’t use honey, which can harbor bacteria and fungi harmful to hummingbirds.

    Experiment to see which feeders hummingbirds prefer — bottle, basin, glass, or specialized

    Bright red attracts hummingbirds, who see the color well, so add red food coloring or decorate feeders red.

    Change nectar every few days and clean feeders weekly with a mild vinegar solution. Dirty nectar can cause deadly tongue fungus in hummingbirds.

    Hummingbirds eat lots of small insects, so avoid spraying chemicals that would kill bugs the birds eat.

    Add a simple mister made from a fan and mister nozzle. The sound and mist attract hummingbirds to stop, drink, and bathe.

    Add protected sites where hummingbirds can shelter from rain or overnight, like dense trees or shrubs.


    Tracking Hummingbird Migration

    There are several ways to track hummingbird migration and activity in your area. View an animated map of ruby-throated and rufous hummingbirds’ journeys at maps.journeynorth.org. Check regional sites like hummerwatch.org or participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. 

    You can search for local wildlife-watching groups on Facebook or join clubs like the National Audubon Society. Mobile apps like eBird Mobile help you log sightings and view real-time migration data. 

    Tracking hummingbird migration not only helps others know when to expect the birds but it provides researchers with valuable data on avian behavior, adaptation, and shifting migration patterns.


    So, Is Tracking and Feeding Hummingbirds Worth It?

    Watching for hummingbirds each spring and seeing these energetic birds buzzing around your yard is an annual thrill for many gardeners.

    While migration generally follows a predictable timeline, local sightings can vary by weeks each year. In my experience,  paying attention to regional reports helps you know when to put up feeders and plant flowers in your area.

    I also find that feeding hummingbirds with homemade nectar or colorful feeders is an easy way to attract them when they arrive. And supplementing their diet helps fuel the birds’ long journeys. Remember — once you start, you must maintain the feeders or risk harming hummingbirds who begin to rely on them.

    So yes, observing hummingbirds and supporting them with feeders is rewarding individually. But it also contributes to our collective knowledge in meaningful ways. Just be sure to do it responsibly by keeping feeders clean and filled.


    FAQs About Hummingbird Migration

    What triggers hummingbird migration?

    Photoperiodism, or changes in day length, initiates migration instincts in hummingbirds. Lengthening daylight hours and warming temperatures spur them north as flowers bloom in spring. Shortening days in fall trigger the return south before frost arrives.


    How long is hummingbird migration?

    Most ruby-throated hummingbirds travel an estimated 1,500 miles each way during migration. At an average speed of 25 mph during active flight, it takes about 60 hours of flying time — though hummingbirds make frequent stops.


    How fast and high do hummingbirds migrate?

    Hummingbirds can fly between 23 to 34 mph during active flight. But they average 12 mph overall during migration, with time spent resting and refueling. Hummingbirds migrate relatively low, from just above the treetops up to 1,000 feet.


    Do hummingbirds migrate over the ocean?

    Most species follow inland routes and avoid large bodies of water during migration. However, ruby-throated hummingbirds make a nonstop, 18 to 20-hour flight across 500 miles of the Gulf of Mexico in the fall.


    How do hummingbirds know when and where to migrate?

    Instinct drives migration, which is an inherited behavior passed down genetically over thousands of years. Optimal routes, timing, stopover spots, and destinations become ingrained in each species. Individual hummingbirds follow this “mental map” on their first migration.


    Why do hummingbirds migrate instead of staying year-round?

    Hummingbirds migrate to take advantage of flower and plant food resources. The abundance of flowers, tree sap, and insects enables them to breed successfully farther north in summer. Migrating south avoids challenges with depleted winter food sources and freezing temperatures.


    Editorial Contributors
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    Coty Perry

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    Coty Perry is a lawn and garden writer for Today’s Homeowner. He focuses on providing homeowners with actionable tips that relate to the “Average Joe” who is looking to achieve a healthier and greener lawn. When he isn’t writing he can almost always be found coaching youth football or on some trail in Pennsylvania in search of the next greatest fishing hole.

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    Amy DeYoung

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    Amy DeYoung has a passion for educating and motivating homeowners to improve their lives through home improvement projects and preventative measures. She is a content writer and editor specializing in pest control, moving, window, and lawn/gardening content for Today’s Homeowner. Amy utilizes her own experience within the pest control and real estate industry to educate readers. She studied business, communications, and writing at Arizona State University.

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