When do hummingbirds

Ruby-throats gather in Florida, Louisiana and along the South Texas coast in September and October in preparation for the final push to the south, either over the Gulf of Mexico or via an overland route through Mexico.

In the fall, fewer Ruby-throats cross the Gulf than in spring. Most follow the Texas coast back into Mexico to avoid tropical storms and hurricanes. More about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Rufous Hummingbirds are wide-ranging, and breed farther north than any other hummingbird, even into southeastern Alaska. They are often seen in the spring in California, summer in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and fall in the Rocky Mountains. They spend their winter non-breeding months in southern Mexico especially in wooded areas in the state of Guerrero.

During their long migrations, Rufous Hummingbirds make a clockwise circuit of western North America each year. As early as July they may start south again, traveling down the chain of the Rocky Mountains. Actual migration routes vary from year to year and can depend on a number of weather-related conditions and other environmental factors. The Black-chinned Hummingbird's breeding range stretches from southern British Columbia in Canada through Idaho and Nevada, south to northern Mexico, and from coastal California, Arizona through Texas, where they are relatively common spring and summer residents.

They migrate to southern California, southern Arizona, and southern Texas or Mexico for the winter. More about Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Allen's Hummingbirds winter as far south as southern Mexico. They move north up the Pacific Coast in late winter, and south through the mountains in late summer. A close relative of the Rufous Hummingbird, Allen's has a more limited range, nesting mostly in California.

It has a rufous tail, green back, and dark bill, and is difficult to safely separate from immature Rufous. The male has an iridescent red throat and shiny green back.

The female's chin, throat, and chest are a dull white, and the center of throat has a variably sized patch of red feathers. The species breeds from Vancouver, Canada south to northern Baja California and east through southern Arizona.

This hardy bird is a permanent resident along the Pacific Coast, staying through the winter in many areas where no other hummingbirds are present. Anna's hummingbirds are found along the western coast of North America, from southern Canada to northern Baja California, and inland to southern and central Arizona, extreme southern Nevada and southeastern Utah, and western Texas. They tend to be permanent residents within their range, and are very territorial.

However, birds have been spotted far outside their range in such places as southern Alaska, Saskatchewan, New York, Florida, Louisiana and Newfoundland.

Anna's hummingbirds have the northernmost year-round range of any hummingbird. During cold temperatures, Anna's hummingbirds gradually gain weight during the day as they convert sugar to fat. In addition, hummingbirds with inadequate stores of body fat or insufficient plumage are able to survive periods of sub-freezing weather by lowering their metabolic rate and entering a state of torpor.

Broad-tailed hummingbirds migrate north in the spring leaving behind the non-migrant populations in central Mexico. After breeding, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds start their south-bound fall migration into their winter range in the highlands of Mexico south to Guatemala. Calliope Hummingbirds primarily breed at high elevations in the mountains of northwestern United States and Canada into Alaska.

During spring and summer they travel through Arizona and New Mexico and northern Mexico, to winter in southwestern Mexico as well as in Guatemala and Belize. During migration, they have to increase their intake even more, storing extra fat for days before they take off on their journey.

This process is called hyperphagia. During the migration seasons, hummingbirds use all that stored fat to travel great distances. Sure, they stop along the way for refueling, but the initial storing of fat is really important.

They are solo travelers, for the most part. And they do not travel on the backs of geese for a free ride. Hummingbirds Migrate Based on Environmental Triggers Every year, there seems to be another myth floating around that says hummingbirds migrate once you take your feeders down. There are even warnings to take them down on time or else hummingbird migration will be delayed. Many hummingbirds spend the winter in Central America or Mexico, and migrate north to their breeding grounds in the southern U.

The first arrivals in spring are usually males. Some, however, do not migrate, in areas like California and the upper Pacific coast. Although there are differing views in the birding community as to what triggers the start of migration, it is generally thought that hummingbirds sense changes in daylight duration, and changes in the abundance of flowers, nectar and insects.

Instinct also plays a role in making the decision to migrate. During migration, a hummingbird's heart beats up to 1, times a minute, and its wings flap 15 to 80 times a second. They fly alone, often on the same path they have flown earlier in their life, and fly low, just above tree tops or water.

Young hummingbirds must navigate without parental guidance. Hummingbirds fly by day when nectar sources such as flowers are more abundant. Flying low allows the birds to see, and stop at, food supplies along the way.

They are also experts at using tail winds to help reach their destination faster and by consuming less energy and body fat. Research indicates a hummingbird can travel as much as 23 miles in one day. However those that make the mile flight from Florida to the Yucatan do it in hours non-stop, depending on wind conditions. The map below shows the approximate breeding ranges of four major hummingbird species in North America: Rufous, Anna's, Black-chinned and Ruby-throated.

Of course actual breeding areas vary by year depending on weather-related conditions and other environmental factors. Also, there is overlap in some areas, such as in Central Texas where Ruby-throats and Black-chinned can be found frequenting the same area. The spring migration can be hard on the hummingbird population as they move north from their winter homes in southern Mexico and Central America. Stops along the way may be for a few minutes, or a few days at more favorable locations with abundant food supplies.

Strong cold fronts moving south over the Gulf of Mexico make flying difficult as the birds deal with headwinds and heavy rain, over long distances with no shelter. Food is non-existent over the open waters. First arrivals in the spring, usually males, can be seen in Texas, Louisiana and other sites along the Gulf Coast in late January to mid-March.

We monitor the spring hummingbird migration from early January to mid-May of each year, with the help of our viewers as they submit their first hummingbird sightings in their areas.

Now that hummingbirds have reached their northernmost breeding grounds in the Canadian provinces, we have ended our mapping project for the year. Shown below is our final map of hummingbird sightings in across the U.

In we received over 12, "first sighting reports". The map has been viewed over 5,, times! With the spring migration complete, we are no longer posting sightings to our map. Hummingbirds are known to return to the same location from one year to the next, even to the same feeder! First arrivals in the spring, usually males, are back in Texas and Louisiana in late February to mid-March.

In more northern states, first arrivals are not until April or May. The map below shows the approximate spring migration arrival dates for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in North America.