Are there hummingbirds in Orlando Florida?

Hummingbirds are a common sight across many parts of the United States, known for their swift, hovering flight and ability to feed while in midair. But are these tiny, fast-moving birds found in the Orlando area of central Florida?

Quick Answer

Yes, there are several species of hummingbirds that live in or migrate through Orlando, Florida throughout the year. The most common hummingbird species spotted in the Orlando area include:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Rufous Hummingbird
• Black-chinned Hummingbird
• Anna’s Hummingbird

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America and the most widespread species seen in Orlando. However, Rufous and Black-chinned Hummingbirds are also regular visitors during winter months and migration periods. Anna’s Hummingbirds are rare but sometimes spotted as well.

Overview of Hummingbird Species in Orlando

Here is more detail on the main hummingbird species that live in or pass through the Orlando area at different times of year:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most commonly observed hummingbird in Orlando and throughout Florida. They are the only breeding hummingbirds found east of the Mississippi River.

Ruby-throats arrive in Central Florida in early March to establish breeding territories after wintering in Central America or Mexico. They are present throughout spring and summer, with most migrating back south in September and October.

Males have vibrant iridescent ruby-red throats, black chins, and white breast patches. Females lack the ruby red throat and are pale brown-green above with white underparts streaked with green.

Ruby-throats favor gardens, meadows, and open woodland areas and are attracted to tubular flowers like honeysuckle, cardinal flower, and trumpet vine. They build small cup-shaped nests high in trees using plant down and spider webs.

Rufous Hummingbird

The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a common winter visitor to Orlando between November and March. Their breeding grounds are in the Pacific Northwest, but they migrate astonishing distances to reach Florida and the Gulf Coast for the winter.

The males are unmistakable with iridescent reddish-orange plumage on the back and belly. Females are greenish above, whitish below, and may show some orange on the belly and throat.

In Orlando, Rufous Hummingbirds are often seen visiting winter-blooming flowers in gardens, parks, and scrub habitat. This includes flowers like honeysuckle, coral honeysuckle, and citrus trees.

Black-chinned Hummingbird

The Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) is another western species that migrates to Florida for the winter from September to April. They are less common than Rufous Hummingbirds but regularly observed in Orlando and surrounding areas.

Adult males have a black throat with a thin band of iridescent purple, a white breast, and green back. Females lack the dark chin and are pale greenish-white below with greenish upperparts.

In Orlando, Black-chins visit many of the same nectar sources as Rufous Hummingbirds. They occasionally get territorial with Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at feeders.

Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) is native to the west coast but has expanded its range eastward in recent decades. They are rare but regular visitors along the Florida Gulf Coast and occasionally sighted in Central Florida including Orlando during the non-breeding season.

Male Anna’s Hummingbirds have iridescent rose-pink throats and crown, with buff-colored flanks. Females are grayish-green above, off-white below with green flanks.

Any sightings of Anna’s Hummingbirds in Orlando would likely be during fall, winter, or early spring. They would visit feeders and flowers rich in nectar.

When and Where to See Hummingbirds in Orlando

The best times of year to observe hummingbirds in Orlando are during spring and fall migration periods. However, some species are present year-round:

• Spring migration runs March through May. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive from Central America and establish breeding territories. Rufous and Black-chinned Hummingbirds pass through in April on their way north.
• Summer from June-August is peak breeding season for Ruby-throats. Some Rufous and Black-chinned Hummingbirds may linger into the summer.
• Fall migration is between August and November as Ruby-throats depart south and Rufous and Black-chinned Hummingbirds arrive for winter.
• Winter months of December-February host the largest numbers and diversity of hummingbirds that migrated from western states.

Good locations in Orlando to spot hummingbirds include:

• Private yards and gardens with hummingbird feeders or native plants the birds rely on for nectar such as honeysuckle, fuchsia, and trumpet creeper vine.
• Parks such as Leu Gardens, Harry P. Leu Gardens, and Mead Botanical Garden which attract the birds with floral displays.
• Nature preserves like Orlando Wetlands Park, Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, and Lake Lotus Park which provide native habitat.
• Nectar corridors along the Shingle Creek Regional Trail where birds can feed on a variety of flowers and trees.

Unique Hummingbird Behaviors

Here are some interesting facts about the unique adaptations and behaviors of hummingbirds commonly seen in Orlando:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds beat their wings up to 53 times per second, allowing them to hover in place and fly backwards.
• Rufous Hummingbirds make one of the longest migration routes of any bird, traveling up to 5,000 miles between Alaska and Mexico each year.
• Black-chinned Hummingbirds use a feeding strategy called trap-lining where they methodically visit a series of flowers in a repeated circuit.
• Anna’s Hummingbirds are one of the few birds that sing complex songs – the male’s song is a mix of squeaks and whistles.
• Hummingbirds have specially adapted tongues that extend to sip nectar while hovering. Their tongues flick up to 13 times per second.
• To conserve energy overnight, hummingbirds go into a hibernation-like state called torpor where their metabolic rate slows.

Ideal Flowers & Feeders for Attracting Hummingbirds

To draw hummingbirds to your Orlando yard or garden, consider planting some of their favorite nectar-producing flowers:

• Native honeysuckles like coral honeysuckle, trumpet honeysuckle, and yellow honeysuckle
• Cardinal flower
• Bee balm
• Trumpet vine
• Butterfly weed
• Firebush
• Crossvine
• Scarlet morning glory
• Nasturtiums
• Sages
• Fuchsias
• Lantanas
• Petunias

It also helps to set up special hummingbird feeders with sugar-water nectar (1 part sugar to 4 parts water). Choose feeders with red coloring and perches as the birds are attracted to the color red. Clean feeders weekly with a water-vinegar solution to prevent mold growth.

Status and Threats Facing Hummingbirds

Most hummingbird species found in Orlando are currently doing well with stable or increasing populations. However, there are some concerns about habitat loss on their breeding grounds and climate change impacts:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird populations declined by around 30% between 1966-2014 according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, but have rebounded more recently.
• Rufous Hummingbirds may face habitat degradation from logging and wildfires in their Pacific Northwest breeding areas.
• Earlier springs and later falls due to climate change are causing some mismatch between migration timing and flower blooming periods that hummingbirds depend on.
• Pesticides, herbicides, and loss of flower gardens and meadows reduces food availability.

Providing hummingbird friendly habitats and reducing pesticide use in Orlando yards and parks can help counteract some of these concerns.

The conservation status for all common hummingbird species in Orlando is currently classified as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, habitat protection is still needed to maintain healthy populations.

Conclusion

Orlando is home to a diversity of hummingbird species that either reside year-round or pass through on migrations to and from wintering grounds. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds dominate during summer breeding months, while Rufous and Black-chinned Hummingbirds migrate in for the winter from western states. Providing nectar-rich flowers and feeders can attract these tiny, fast-moving birds to local yards and gardens for enjoyment.

Understanding the different hummingbird species found in Orlando, their annual cycles, behaviors, and habitat needs can help residents support these special birds. Although hummingbird populations currently seem stable, threats like habitat loss and climate change effects make it important that we continue providing healthy environments for them to thrive.