As autumn sets in across New York State, many people wonder if the hummingbirds that spent the spring and summer here have begun their annual migration south. Hummingbirds are a beloved sight in backyard gardens during the warmer months, but by late September and October they become much more scarce as most species head to their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Understanding the migration patterns of New York’s hummingbirds can help us appreciate the cycles of nature and these tiny birds’ amazing seasonal journeys.
What types of hummingbirds live in or migrate through New York?
New York State is home to four regular species of hummingbirds during the spring and summer:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only species that commonly breeds in the state. However, Rufous, Calliope’s, and Broad-tailed hummingbirds are increasingly reported, especially in western New York, as rare but regular migrants through the region.
Additional vagrant species like Anna’s Hummingbird, Allen’s Hummingbird, Costa’s Hummingbird, and Buff-bellied Hummingbird occasionally appear in the state as well, mostly along the Atlantic coast. But the core species dependent on New York as seasonal habitat are Ruby-throats, Rufous, Calliope’s, and Broad-taileds. Understanding their migration timing helps us track the comings and goings of hummingbirds in the state.
When do most hummingbirds leave New York?
Here is an overview of the typical migration periods for New York’s major hummingbird species:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Most Ruby-throats leave New York between late August and late September. The males tend to begin migrating earlier, starting in July and August, while the females and immatures follow in September and early October. Some late-departing individuals may linger until early October, particularly along the Atlantic coast. But most Ruby-throats are gone by the end of September.
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbirds pass through New York during both their northbound spring migration and southbound fall migration. They tend to arrive in August and linger through September. Peak sightings occur in mid-September. Most Rufous activity drops off in October, with few reports after late October.
Calliope Hummingbird
Like the Rufous, Calliope’s Hummingbirds migrate through New York in August-September heading south, and May-June heading north. They are most common in fall from mid-August through late September, becoming scarce by early October.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed hummingbirds follow a similar migration schedule to Ruby-throats, arriving in New York in May and departing sometime between late August and late September. They become increasingly scarce in October.
So in summary, August and September are the peak months most hummingbird species migrate south through or out of New York. Some stragglers may linger into October, but the vast majority have departed for their wintering grounds by then.
What wintering grounds and migration routes do New York’s hummingbirds take?
Here are the typical wintering grounds and migration journeys for New York’s hummingbirds:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Winter grounds: Mexico to Panama, Caribbean islands
- Migration route: Across Gulf of Mexico to Mexico, Central America
- Distance traveled: Over 2,000 miles one-way
Ruby-throats make one of the most incredible intercontinental migrations of any bird. The tiny birds fly nonstop 500-600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico to reach their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Their entire migration can exceed 5,000 miles roundtrip!
Rufous Hummingbird
- Winter grounds: Mexico and Gulf Coast
- Migration route: Through Rockies and Gulf Coast region
- Distance traveled: Up to 5,000 miles roundtrip
The feisty Rufous hummer migrates between its Pacific Northwest breeding grounds and the Gulf Coast and Mexico. Remarkably, some Rufous Hummingbirds winter as far north as Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, coping with occasional winter freezes.
Calliope Hummingbird
- Winter grounds: Mexico
- Migration route: Southwest U.S. through Texas into Mexico
- Distance traveled: up to 4,000 miles roundtrip
Tiny Calliope Hummingbirds follow a circuitous migratory loop up the West Coast in spring, and through the Southwest and Texas hill country in fall on their way to winter grounds in Mexico.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
- Winter grounds: Mexico
- Migration route: Through Southwest U.S. and Texas to Mexico
- Distance traveled: Up to 3,000 miles one-way
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds nest in the mountainous West then migrate on a path through the Southwest and Texas before reaching wintering grounds primarily in central and western Mexico.
The long migrations of these diminutive birds reflect the amazing adaptability and resilience of hummingbirds. Their navigational abilities and endurance carry them thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering habitats.
How do hummingbirds know when to migrate?
What signals tell hummingbirds it’s time to depart their summer grounds and begin migrating south? Here are some of the key factors:
- Decreasing daylight. As days get shorter in August and September, hummingbirds take cue to begin migrating.
- Food availability. The decline of nectar-producing flowers alerts hummingbirds to move on.
- Weather and temperatures. Cooler weather motivates migration to warmer climates.
- Internal rhythms. Hummingbirds appear to have innate rhythms adapted to seasonal movements.
Research suggests decreasing daylight hours coupled with lowering temperatures and dwindling food sources serve as critical triggers for migration in hummingbirds. These external cues coincide with internal biological rhythms genetically adapted to the seasonal cycle over thousands of years. The result is a timely migration closely synchronized to seasonal food resources across a vast geographical range.
How long does the hummingbird migration take?
The duration of hummingbirds’ fall migration varies by species, location, and individual. Here’s an overview:
- Ruby-throats – 4 to 6 weeks for most birds
- Rufous – Up to 2 months
- Calliope’s – Up to 8 weeks
- Broad-tails – 4 to 6 weeks
Some key considerations:
- West Coast birds make longer migrations to Mexico and Central America
- Younger birds tend to migrate slower than adults
- Males tend to migrate earlier than females and young
- Cold fronts and weather can impact migration speed
So while some hummingbirds leave New York in August, others arriving from farther north delay until September. And it can take weeks to fully evacuate from the state along this diffuse, prolonged migration pathway. There is no single departure date.
Do any hummingbirds overwinter in New York?
The short answer is no. Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope’s, and Broad-tailed hummingbirds do not winter anywhere in New York State or anywhere in the eastern U.S.
However, a few rare exceptions may overwinter in some years, mainly south or east of New York:
- Ruby-throat – unlikely but possible along southeast Atlantic coast
- Rufous – have overwintered along Gulf Coast
- Anna’s – several New York records, unlikely to overwinter successfully
The only species established to overwinter regularly in the eastern U.S. is the non-native tropical Buff-bellied Hummingbird in Florida and southeastern states. There are no credible overwinter sightings of any species in New York. Hummingbirds are vulnerable to freezing weather and rely on insect prey that disappears in winter.
| Species | Overwinters in New York? |
|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | No |
| Rufous Hummingbird | No |
| Calliope Hummingbird | No |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | No |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | No |
So while the southeast U.S. hosts wintering tropical hummingbirds, cold weather prohibits these delicate birds from remaining through the winter in New York. Any winter sightings in the state should be scrutinized and likely represent misidentified insects or other birds.
Could climate change allow hummingbirds to overwinter in New York someday?
While hummingbird overwintering seems highly improbable even decades in the future, some climate change impacts could potentially enable marginal overwintering by certain species in New York:
- Warmer minimum temperatures
- Earlier springs
- New winter food sources
- Northward range expansions
Broadly, warming trends will reduce cold stress on hummingbirds while increasing nectar resources during winter. However, projections specific to enabling hummingbird overwintering in New York remain speculative. The requirements of insects for protein and additional adaptation time make substantial wintering gains unlikely near-term. Any future overwintering would likely involve pioneer individuals scouting new extremes ahead of population ranges.
Possible Candidates
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Of potential wandering vagrants, these adaptable southern species moving northward are most plausible candidates to attempt New York overwintering sometime in the next 50 years if trends continue.
| Species | Overwinter possibility by 2070? |
|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Very Low |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Low |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Very Low |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | Low-Moderate |
| Buff-bellied Hummingbird | Low |
In conclusion, while climate warming may incrementally improve prospects, hummingbirds are not expected to commonly overwinter in New York anytime in the foreseeable future. Any successful overwintering would represent an outlier event beyond normal expectations.
How can I attract hummingbirds during migration and into late fall?
Here are some tips to provide needed food sources for migrating hummingbirds in the fall:
- Leave feeders up until end of October
- Use fresh nectar, clean feeders weekly
- Plant fall blooming flowers and shrubs
- Avoid pesticides that may kill insects
- Offer fruit trees or vines for sugars
- Consider leaving a small incandescent porch light on
Providing nectar feeders, flowering plants, and leaving a light on may help sustain migrants as they pass through. Be sure to clean feeders to prevent mold or bacteria. Also consider leaving some leaf litter and native plants that attract insects hummingbirds depend on for protein. With preparation, you may spot stray hummingbirds later into the fall than normal in New York.
Conclusion
While a lone hummingbird sighting in November may spark optimism, the evidence indicates consistent overwintering remains highly improbable in New York State, even decades into the future. However, climate change and northward range shifts could result in more late-lingering birds and earlier spring arrivals in the coming years. With preparation, we can make our landscapes more attractive to these much-beloved migrants during the fall transition. Enjoy any late sightings as a special gift of nature before the long quiet of winter returns. The incredible migrating Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope’s and Broad-tailed hummingbirds will return again next spring.
