Do hummingbirds fly in flocks when they migrate?

Hummingbirds are amazing little birds that capture the imagination. Their tiny size, brilliant iridescent colors, and incredible flying abilities make them one of the most popular backyard birds. Every year, hummingbirds make epic migrations across countries and continents. This raises an interesting question – do hummingbirds fly together in flocks when they migrate?

Do hummingbirds migrate?

Yes, most hummingbird species do migrate. Out of the 338 known hummingbird species, around 42 species are permanent residents that do not migrate. The rest, around 296 species, are migratory to some degree. Here are some examples of migratory hummingbirds:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Migrates from Canada and the eastern United States to Mexico and Central America for the winter.
• Rufous Hummingbird – Migrates between Mexico and the Pacific Northwest in the United States and Canada.
• Allen’s Hummingbird – Migrates along the Pacific Coast from southern California to Mexico.
• Costa’s Hummingbird – Migrates from southern California and Arizona to Mexico for the winter.
• Anna’s Hummingbird – Some populations migrate short distances between breeding grounds in California and Baja California.

The distances these tiny birds travel is astonishing. For example, the Rufous Hummingbird migrates over 3,900 miles between Alaska and Mexico. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird can log over 2,000 miles migrating between Canada and Central America.

Do hummingbirds fly together in flocks?

No, hummingbirds do not migrate together in flocks like many other bird species. Here are some reasons why hummingbirds fly solo during migration:

• Territorial behavior – Hummingbirds are very territorial and aggressive. Males will fiercely defend feeding territories from other males. This behavior makes flocking difficult.
• Nectar diet – Hummingbirds feed on flower nectar. This food source is scattered and not conducive to feeding in groups.
• Small size – Their tiny size and high metabolism means hummingbirds need to keep moving and feeding. This makes flocking impractical.
• Fast flight – Hummingbirds can fly up to 34 mph. Maintaining a flock at those speeds would be extremely difficult.

While they may cross paths with each other, hummingbirds generally migrate individually. They are solitary migrants that do not coordinate with each other or form flocks along migration routes. However, there are exceptions in a few species that may gather in small feeding groups during migration.

Do any hummingbirds migrate in groups?

Most hummingbird species migrate independently and do not coordinate with each other. However, there are a couple exceptions where some species may gather in small loose groups or feed together during migration:

• Rufous Hummingbird – During migration, they may loosely gather in feeding groups of up to 100 birds in areas with abundant nectar flowers. This is likely a temporary opportunistic gathering rather than flocking behavior.
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird – May loosely gather in small feeding groups during migration, especially along the Gulf Coast where food sources are abundant.
• Anna’s Hummingbird – Males migrate before females. During migration, small groups of males will stake out and defend prime feeding territories that they allow females to share when they arrive later.

While these migratory gatherings may occur, they appear to be temporary for accessing abundant food rather than coordinated flocking. Hummingbirds lack the social structures and communication methods to support extended flocking behavior.

How do hummingbirds know when and where to migrate?

Hummingbirds migrate individually, but how do they know when to migrate and where to go without guidance from a flock? Here are some of the ways hummingbirds navigate their migrations:

• Internal circannual clock – Hummingbirds have an internal clock based on circadian rhythms that helps signal the times for migration.
• Changing daylight – Hummingbirds track the change in day length which helps cue the migration season.
• Genetics – Migration routes and timing are ingrained in each species genetically with some ability to adapt to changing conditions.
• Orientation – Hummingbirds appear to calibrate their internal compass based on position of the sun and patterns of polarization in daylight.
• Landmarks – Land formations, coastlines, mountains, and other landmarks may help guide individual hummingbirds along traditional migration routes.

Young hummingbirds also appear to learn migration routes and directions by traveling with experienced adults in their first migration. This helps perpetuate migration patterns across generations. With these navigational tools, hummingbirds successfully complete their solo migrations year after year.

How far do hummingbirds migrate?

Different hummingbird species migrate varying distances each year. Some species migrate relatively short distances while others undertake incredibly long intercontinental migrations. Here are some examples of hummingbird migration distances:

As these migration distances show, tiny hummingbirds are incredibly strong and resilient fliers. Their non-stop flights over land and sea to reach their destinations are amazing feats of endurance.

When do hummingbirds migrate?

Hummingbird migration timing varies by species and location. In general, most hummingbirds that breed in the United States and Canada migrate in the following windows:

• Spring migration – February to May. The earliest migrants start arriving in February and most arrive by mid-May.
• Fall migration – July to November. Migrants start leaving in July with most gone by early November.

Here are some examples of specific hummingbird migration times:

The exact timing can vary from year to year depending on weather and other conditions during migration. In general, male hummingbirds precede females in spring and fall migration by up to a couple weeks.

How fast and high do hummingbirds fly when migrating?

During migration, hummingbirds fly surprisingly fast and high. Here are some details on hummingbird flight during migration:

• Speed – Hummingbirds can fly between 23-34 mph during migration. They flap their wings up to 70 times per second.
• Altitude – Hummingbirds migrate anywhere from a few hundred feet up to altitudes higher than 12,000 feet above sea level.
• Distance – Migrating hummingbirds may cover 20-300 miles in a single day, with rest stops.
• Time – Hummingbirds migrate during daylight hours. Migration may pause or slow during periods of high winds, rain, or crossing ecological barriers.

Hummingbirds have high metabolism and must feed frequently to power their migration. They compensate for their small size with aerodynamic efficiency to fly long distances remarkably fast.

What routes do hummingbirds take when migrating?

Hummingbird migration routes generally follow major flyways along coasts or mountain ranges. However, their small size allows flexibility to divert around obstacles. Here are some key hummingbird migration routes in North America:

• Atlantic flyway – Follows Atlantic coastline, used by Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
• Mississippi flyway – Follows Mississippi River drainage, used by Ruby-throated and Rufous Hummingbirds.
• Central flyway – Between Rocky Mountains and Mississippi River, used by Rufous and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.
• Pacific flyway – Follows Pacific coastline, used by Rufous, Allen’s, Costa’s, and Anna’s Hummingbirds.

Within these broad routes, hummingbirds may take shortcuts across mountains and forests. They orient using landmarks like coastlines, rivers, mountain ranges, valleys, and vegetated corridors.

What are the dangers hummingbirds face during migration?

Despite their aerial talents, hummingbirds face many threats and challenges during their migratory journeys including:

• Lack of food sources – Finding adequate nectar supplies over long distances can be difficult and hummingbirds risk starvation.
• Extreme weather – Storms, high winds, and precipitation can force hummingbirds down and lead to exhaustion or death.
• Habitat loss – Human development destroys forests and nectar sources hummingbirds rely on to rest and refuel during migration.
• Building collisions – Hummingbirds can collide with buildings, cell towers, wind turbines, and other structures during migration.
• Predators – Hawks, falcons, and other birds prey on hummingbirds during migration.
• Ocean crossings – Exhaustion and disorientation during long overwater flights can be fatal.

Hummingbirds lose a lot of weight and face high mortality during migration. Their resilience enables the survivors to make the full round trip year after year.

How do hummingbirds know where to stop over during migration?

Hummingbirds may stop to rest and refuel many times during their migration. Their high metabolism requires frequent feeding. Hummingbirds identify stopover spots through:

• Instinct – They are genetically predisposed to stop at certain locations along traditional migration routes.
• Landmarks – Geographic features help signal good places to stop.
• Sight and smell – Hummingbirds identify abundant nectar sources from sights and scents.
• Experience – Young birds learn good stopover spots from older hummingbirds.

Ideal stopover spots provide shelter from weather and predators, as well as plentiful nectar flowers to refuel. Hummingbirds precisely time their migration to coincide with peak bloom of certain flower species along their route.

How do hummingbirds navigate over oceans during migration?

Some migrating hummingbirds face the immense challenge of flying non-stop over hundreds of miles of ocean. For example, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fly across the Gulf of Mexico which requires a 600 mile flight. Here’s how hummingbirds successfully navigate ocean crossings:

• Internal compass – Hummingbirds orient using their internal magnetic compass calibrated with help from the sun and patterns of polarized light.
• Fat stores – They build up fat reserves equal to over half their body weight to provide energy for long ocean flights.
• Ideal winds – Hummingbirds wait for favorable tailwinds before crossing large bodies of water.
• Experience – Young hummingbirds learn navigation skills from older birds on their first ocean crossing.

Through remarkable physiological adaptations and navigational abilities, hummingbirds are able to undertake the longest overwater flights proportional to body size of any bird species.

Do hummingbirds fly non-stop during migration?

Hummingbirds have incredible stamina but they do not fly non-stop along their entire migration route. Here are some facts about flight during migration:

• They may fly non-stop for extreme long-distance legs over oceans and deserts.
• Most migration occurs through shorter flight segments between stopover resting and feeding spots.
• Flights range from a few hours to multiple days between stopovers.
• Hummingbirds build up fat stores equal to over half their body weight to fuel migration flights.
• They feed frequently during migration to power further flight. Their metabolism is extremely rapid.

While capable of extreme endurance flights, hummingbirds cannot migrate entirely non-stop. They require frequent rest and refueling along migration routes to complete their full round trip journeys.

How many times do hummingbirds migrate in their lifetime?

Most hummingbirds migrate twice per year over many years. Here are some details on how many migrations hummingbirds make:

• Hummingbirds migrate in spring and fall, so they make two migratory trips per year.
• Annual survival rates during migration may be 50% or less for some species.
• Those that survive may migrate for several years over their lifespan.
• The typical lifespan of wild hummingbirds ranges from 3-12 years depending on the species.
• The oldest known wild hummingbird was a female Broad-tailed Hummingbird that lived to 12 years old.
• With a 10 year lifespan, a hummingbird may complete up to 20 migrations over its lifetime.

Considering their small size, the number of migratory journeys hummingbirds complete during their lifetime is impressive. The hazards they overcome highlight the resilience of hummingbirds that survive multiple migrations.

Conclusion

While most hummingbirds do not migrate together in flocks, their solitary journeys are no less remarkable. These tiny colorful birds fly incredible distances at fast speeds to complete their annual migrations. By scaling mountains, crossing deserts and oceans, and navigating unfamiliar terrain, hummingbirds display breathtaking endurance and navigational abilities. Their migrations are a testament to the remarkable perseverance hummingbirds demonstrate in overcoming immense challenges.