Hummingbirds are amazing little birds that capture our hearts with their beauty and fascinating behaviors. One of the most intriguing things about hummingbirds is their migration. These tiny birds make incredible journeys each year, traveling thousands of miles between their summer and winter homes.
Do hummingbirds migrate?
Yes, most hummingbirds in North America migrate. There are a few species that are year-round residents in certain warm climates like Florida and parts of California, but the majority migrate. Migration allows hummingbirds to take advantage of abundant food resources during the summer breeding season in the north, while escaping harsh winters.
How far do they travel during migration?
The distance a hummingbird migrates depends on the species, but migration routes can span hundreds to thousands of miles. Here are some examples of hummingbird migration distances:
- Ruby-throated hummingbird – Travels over 500 miles between Canada/Eastern U.S. and Central America
- Rufous hummingbird – Travels over 3,000 miles between Alaska and Mexico
- Allen’s hummingbird – Travels around 1,000 miles between the Pacific Coast and Mexico
- Broad-tailed hummingbird – Travels approximately 1,000 miles between the Rocky Mountains and Mexico
As you can see, many hummingbirds routinely make remarkably long migrations every year as they travel between their breeding and wintering grounds.
Do they migrate to the same wintering grounds each year?
In most cases, yes, individual hummingbirds will return to the same wintering grounds year after year. Scientists have been able to track hummingbirds using small tags and found they show a high degree of site fidelity to their winter homes, often returning to the exact same locations.
There are a few factors that help explain this loyalty to their winter territories:
- Familiarity with food sources – They know where reliable nectar sources are from previous experience.
- Learned routes – They remember navigation cues to return to the area.
- Competition – Good winter habitats are limited, so reusing a successful location has advantages.
Young hummingbirds may initially wander more when migrating, but they will often settle in one area that provides sufficient food. Once they’ve found a suitable habitat, they will remember how to return to the area in future migrations.
Do they follow the same migration route each time?
Generally yes, individual hummingbirds tend to follow the same routes during migration. They rely on visual cues, memory, and their internal compass to navigate along fairly consistent pathways between their seasonal ranges. However, hummingbirds also show some flexibility in their routes:
- Young birds may wander more on first migrations.
- Weather and food availability can impact precise flight paths.
- Mountain ranges and other geography funnel migrants along some corridors.
While they might make minor variations, most hummingbirds follow a predictable route that forms a loop between their breeding and wintering locations. Their impressive navigation abilities allow them to trace the same journey along this “loop migration” year after year.
Do hummingbirds migrate individually or in groups?
Hummingbirds are solitary migrants and do not travel together in groups or flocks during migration. They each make the migratory journey completely on their own.
There are a couple reasons they migrate solo:
- Very territorial – They aggressively defend food sources and won’t share.
- No safety in numbers – Their small size means grouping doesn’t deter predators.
While we may spot numerous hummingbirds stopping briefly to refuel at feeders or flowers during migration, they are still alone in their travels. Each individual must make the demanding trip over mountains and across Gulf coasts by itself. There is no banding together for these tiny birds.
How do hummingbirds know when and where to migrate?
Hummingbirds appear to rely on a combination of internal programming and external cues to guide their migratory timing and orientation. Here are some key factors:
- Genetics – Instinct to migrate seems to be built into their DNA and physiology.
- Seasonal cues – Changes in day length help signal when to begin migration.
- Fat stores – Build up body fat to fuel migration.
- Internal compass – Use the earth’s magnetic fields to orient direction.
- Landmarks – Recognize mountains, coastlines, rivers, etc. as navigational guides.
The triggers that spur a hummingbird to start migration at precisely the right time each year are still not fully understood. But researchers believe their complex navigational abilities are a combination of innate genetic programming and responses to seasonal environmental cues.
How long does hummingbird migration take?
The duration of a hummingbird’s migration depends on the species, distance traveled, weather, and other factors. However, here are some general time ranges for one-way migration:
- Ruby-throated hummingbird – Can take 18-22 days for fall migration to Central America.
- Rufous hummingbird – Typically takes about a month for spring migration to breeding grounds.
- Broad-tailed hummingbird – May complete migration in 7-10 days by burning through fat quickly.
- Allen’s hummingbird – Spends around 25 days in fall migration to Mexico.
With frequent stops to feed and rest along the route, migration may take several weeks to over a month one-way. The return trip in spring also requires similar timeframes. This means a substantial amount of their year is spent migrating between habitats.
What are the main hazards faced during migration?
Hummingbirds face many threats and challenges while migrating such long distances twice a year. Some of the key hazards include:
- Food scarcity – Finding enough food sources along the route to maintain energy.
- Exhaustion – Pushing physiological limits for an extended period.
- Inclement weather – Encountering storms, high winds, rain, etc.
- Predators – Hawks, falcons, and other birds prey on hummingbirds.
- Human structures – Collisions with buildings, cell towers, wind turbines, etc.
To survive the journey, hummingbirds need plenty of nectar-rich flowers along migration pathways. Backyard feeders also provide a vital source of fuel. Even still, many hummingbirds weaken and perish before reaching their destination.
How has urban development impacted hummingbird migration?
In some ways, urbanization and human development has benefited hummingbirds migrating through areas like the southwest U.S. For example:
- Backyard feeders provide supplemental food sources.
- Cultivated gardens and parks offer nectar from ornamental plants.
- Trees along urban waterways provide resting spots.
However, there are also negative effects of urbanization:
- Loss of natural habitat and native nectar sources.
- Light pollution can disorient navigation at night.
- Collision threats from buildings, antennas, and other structures.
Hummingbirds that migrate through regions with rapid urban growth and development face a mix of potential advantages and problems. Maintaining native vegetation corridors through cities and reducing light pollution can help mitigate some of the hazards of migrating through urban areas.
How can people support migrating hummingbirds?
Here are some tips for how people can help provide support for hummingbirds during migration:
- Put up feeders with fresh nectar along migration routes.
- Plant native flowers and shrubs that bloom through the migration seasons.
- Avoid use of pesticides which can impact insect food sources.
- Reduce collisions by placing stickers on windows and turning off lights at night.
- Report early and late hummingbird sightings to help track migration timing.
Even simple acts like providing clean feeders in your yard can make a difference for a hungry hummingbird stopping to refuel on its long journey. Every bit of support from people along their migration flyways helps hummingbirds complete their amazing seasonal odysseys.
Do hummingbirds migrate over water?
Yes, many hummingbird species make daring non-stop flights over expanses of water like the Gulf of Mexico each year during migration. For example, here are some of the ocean crossing made by hummingbirds:
- Ruby-throated hummingbirds fly 500 miles non-stop across the Gulf.
- Rufous hummingbirds fly over 400 miles of open Pacific Ocean.
- Allen’s hummingbirds traverse 400 miles over the Gulf of California.
These ocean crossings allow the birds to take a more direct route to their winter homes. However, the extended flight over water without any opportunity to stop and refuel is an extremely challenging feat for the tiny hummingbirds. Adverse weather like storms over water can be fatal.
How do hummingbirds fly so far over water?
Hummingbirds are physiologically adapted to sustained hovering flight, with enhanced endurance through:
- Very high metabolism
- Rapid heartbeat
- High oxygen intake
- Ability to burn fat during flight
To prepare for water crossings, hummingbirds build up fat reserves ahead of time and select optimal weather windows. Their unique flight muscles allow them to flap continuously for 18+ hours without stopping by converting fat stores into energy while airborne.
Why cross large bodies of water?
Despite the risks, crossing the Gulf of Mexico and other water bodies allows hummingbirds to take a more direct route on their southbound migration. Benefits include:
- Shorter distance saves energy.
- Avoids circuitous detours and geographic barriers.
- Reduces time spent exposed to predators.
The rewards appear to outweigh the risks for most migrating hummingbirds, as many species make daring water crossings twice a year during migration season.
Do any other birds migrate with hummingbirds?
No, hummingbirds do not actually travel alongside other migrating bird species. Since they migrate solo, they do not form mixed flocks with other birds. However, some patterns overlap:
- Swifts – Migrate similar routes and also eat flying insects.
- Warblers – Feed on insects along same stopover habitats.
- Raptors – Peregrine falcons may predate on hummingbirds.
So while they do not directly migrate together, hummingbirds intersect with some of the same birds along migration corridors. Backyards with flowers and feeders may temporarily host both passing hummingbirds and insect-eating songbirds like warblers at the same time during spring or fall migration.
Conclusion
In conclusion, most hummingbirds exhibit a remarkable loyalty to both their breeding and wintering grounds. Individuals display patterns of site fidelity, returning to the same locations year after year through their navigation abilities and memory. They also tend to follow consistent migration pathways forming a loop between seasonal habitats. While some flexibility exists, hummingbirds largely migrate to the same places on an annual cyclical journey that remains one of nature’s great wonders.
