Hummingbirds are a beloved sign of spring and summer across North America. Their tiny size and incredible flying abilities make them a joy to watch. But what happens to hummingbirds when winter arrives? Do they stick around North Florida or migrate south?
Quick Answer
Most hummingbirds do leave North Florida in the winter, migrating south to warmer climates. However, some species, like the Rufous Hummingbird, may overwinter in North Florida during mild winters. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common summer hummingbird in North Florida and migrates south to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean for the winter.
Overview of Hummingbird Migration
Hummingbirds are migratory birds that nest in North America during the spring and summer months. When winter arrives, most hummingbird species embark on migratory journeys south to warmer climates with more abundant food supplies.
Here are some key facts about hummingbird migration:
- Most hummingbirds migrate south between August and November and return north between March and May.
- Ruby-throated Hummingbirds travel over 5000 miles between their breeding grounds in the Eastern U.S. and Canada to their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
- Rufous Hummingbirds breed farther north than other species and may migrate over 6000 miles between Alaska and Mexico.
- Hummingbird migration is triggered by hormonal changes brought about by changes in daylight length.
- Cold temperatures, lack of food, and lack of appropriate habitat also encourage migration.
- Some hummingbird species like Anna’s Hummingbird and Rufous Hummingbird may overwinter in warmer parts of their breeding range, like Southern California and the Gulf Coast.
Banding and tracking studies have provided detailed maps of the migratory routes for species like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Scientists have also documented the amazing feats of endurance hummingbirds demonstrate during migration, crossing the Gulf of Mexico nonstop and navigating over mountain ranges and other barriers.
Hummingbirds of North Florida
There are over 300 different hummingbird species found throughout the Americas. Here in North Florida, some species breed during the summer months while other species pass through during spring and fall migration:
Breeding Species
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird – This is the only breeding hummingbird species found east of the Mississippi River. They are found across North Florida from March through October.
- Rufous Hummingbird – A few Rufous Hummingbirds may overwinter and attempt to breed in North Florida, though this is rare.
Migrant Species
- Rufous Hummingbird – The most common western hummingbird found in Florida during migration and winter. They occur in North Florida primarily from October to March.
- Allen’s Hummingbird – A rare winter visitor along the Gulf Coast of Florida.
- Anna’s Hummingbird – Very rare in North Florida.
- Black-chinned Hummingbird – Rare migrant mainly across inland Florida.
- Calliope Hummingbird – A vagrant species rarely documented in Florida.
Do Hummingbirds Leave North Florida in Winter?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most widespread and common breeding hummingbird in eastern North America, including North Florida. This species shows a clear migratory pattern:
- They arrive in North Florida in March and April to establish breeding territories.
- They nest and raise young from April through July.
- In late summer and early fall, they migrate back to their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
- Very few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds overwinter in North Florida, though rare reports exist of individual birds attempting to tough out the winter.
Banding data indicates the majority leave Florida by late October. The latest recorded Ruby-throated Hummingbird in North Florida was banded in Tallahassee on November 30th. But such late dates are highly unusual.
So in summary, the common breeding Ruby-throated Hummingbird migrates south in the fall and largely vacates North Florida and the rest of the Southeastern U.S until next spring.
Rufous Hummingbirds
Rufous Hummingbirds have the northernmost breeding range of any hummingbird species. They breed in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska during summer before migrating to Mexico and the Gulf Coast for winter.
In most years, most Rufous Hummingbirds migrate south out of North Florida by late March. However, a few individuals may linger through the winter and attempt to breed. This winter breeding is rare and sporadic in North Florida.
During winter and migration, Rufous Hummingbirds are regular visitors throughout North Florida. They are commonly reported at feeders from November through March.
So in warm winters, small numbers of Rufous Hummingbirds can be found year-round in North Florida. But their migration is less defined than Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, with considerable variation between individuals and annually.
Do Hummingbirds Hibernate?
Hummingbirds have extremely high metabolisms and cannot hibernate. They must eat frequently to power their tiny bodies, consuming nectar, tree sap, and small insects.
During migration, hummingbirds stop to rest and refuel every few hundred miles. At their wintering grounds, they defend territories with flowering plants and feeders to ensure a constant supply of food.
Despite their small size, hummingbirds are resilient. But prolonged freezes, storms, or lack of food may still take a toll during winter. Hummingbirds can enter a state of nocturnal torpor to conserve energy on cold nights. Their heartbeat and breathing slows, and they become lethargic to reduce their metabolic rate up to 95%.
How Far South Do ruby-throated hummingbirds Migrate?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds winter primarily in southern Mexico and Central America. Banding data suggests the majority winter south of the Tropic of Cancer, through countries including:
- Mexico
- Belize
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama
A smaller number may migrate to Caribbean islands like Cuba, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Ruby-throats start arriving in their winter grounds as early as July but peak from September to November.
In one incredible example of migration endurance, a Ruby-throat banded in Ontario, Canada was recaptured over 5,000 miles away at its winter territory in Costa Rica!
How Do Hummingbirds Migrate?
To migrate long distances, hummingbirds need fat reserves to power their flight. In the weeks before migration, they feed extensively and store fat, nearly doubling their weight.
Hummingbirds depart on migration solo, using a combination of innate instincts and environmental cues to navigate south. Some key aspects of their migration journey include:
- Migrating only during daylight hours when flowers and food are available.
- Stopping to rest and refuel every few hundred miles in a process called stopover.
- Making non-stop open water crossings of 500 miles or more over the Gulf of Mexico.
- Navigating using mental maps, stars, the earth’s magnetic field, and landscape features.
- Flying continuously for up to 23 hours to cross barriers like the Gulf of Mexico.
- Flying at altitudes up to 21,000 feet over mountains and plateaus.
- Maintaining flight speeds of up to 38 mph while migrating.
Scientists are still unraveling the many mysteries of hummingbird migration. But new tracking technologies and studies continue to reveal their incredible navigational skills and endurance on migratory journeys.
Unique Challenges Hummingbirds Face During Migration
Hummingbirds face many threats and challenges during their seasonal migrations including:
- Lack of food sources – Finding enough nectar and insects to maintain their hyperactive metabolism is a constant challenge.
- Inclement weather – Storms, high winds, and temperature extremes can be deadly during migration.
- No rest areas – Hummingbirds tire easily and rely on finding stopover sites, but habitat loss can eliminate rest areas.
- Navigational hazards – Artificial lights, buildings, and other human structures disrupt navigation on migration.
- Predators – Hawks, falcons, and other birds prey on hummingbirds during migration.
Research suggests that up to 70% of juvenile hummingbirds may not survive their first southbound migration. Adults experience lower mortality rates, but hazards are still substantial on their long journeys between breeding and wintering grounds.
How Do Hummingbirds Know When to Migrate?
What signals hummingbirds that it’s time to migrate south in the fall? And how do they know when to return north in spring? Hummingbirds rely on the following environmental cues:
- Changes in daylight – As days shorten after the summer solstice, hummingbirds are triggered to migrate south.
- Food availability – Declines in flowers, tree sap, and insects encourage migration to warmer climates with more abundant food.
- Temperature – The onset of cooler temperatures helps spur hummingbirds to migrate before winter arrives.
- Hormones – Changes in hormones connected to reproduction and fat storage serve as internal signals to prepare for migration.
In the spring, the cycle reverses – increasing daylight, warmer temperatures, more flower blooms, and hormonal changes prompt hummingbirds to migrate north again to their breeding grounds.
How Do Hummingbirds Navigate During Migration?
Scientists are still working to fully understand how hummingbirds find their way over thousands of miles between their summer and winter homes. Some of the amazing navigational skills hummingbirds employ include:
- Mental maps – Hummingbirds may have mental maps of key landmarks and stopover sites along migration routes.
- The sun – Hummingbirds use the sun’s position to orient themselves during daylight hours.
- Stars – On clear nights, hummingbirds can navigate using stars and constellations.
- The magnetic field – Hummingbirds may sense the Earth’s magnetic field through special cells near their eyes and beak.
- Landscapes – Mountains, coastlines, rivers and other features help guide hummingbirds.
- Smell – Scents from land masses and flowers may provide clues during migration.
Young hummingbirds likely learn migration routes and orientations from experienced adults. And some scientists believe hummingbirds may also have an inherited genetic program that aids migration to specific breeding and wintering sites.
Conclusion
Most hummingbird species like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird leave North Florida in the fall to migrate south and spend the winter in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. They perform incredible feats of endurance powered by their high-energy metabolism during these long seasonal journeys. Some western species like the Rufous may overwinter in small numbers in North Florida during mild winters before migrating north again in spring. Understanding hummingbird migration remains an important scientific endeavor to better conserve these unique pollinators and mesmerizing birds.
