Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures that brighten up our gardens and yards with their beauty and activity during the warmer months. However, as winter approaches, many hummingbird owners wonder what they can do to help their hummingbirds survive the colder weather. While hummingbirds do migrate south for the winter, some hummingbirds will overwinter in cooler climates. If you have hummingbirds nearby that appear to be sticking around for the winter, there are some steps you can take to help increase their chances of survival until spring returns. Providing food, shelter, and protection from predators are the main ways to help overwintering hummingbirds. With a little effort, you can create a welcoming habitat for hummingbirds all winter long.
Why Do Some Hummingbirds Stay in Colder Climates?
Most hummingbird species migrate hundreds or even thousands of miles to warmer climates in Mexico and Central America where they can find ample food and nesting locations. However, some brave individuals opt to overwinter in the southernmost parts of their summer range. This includes states such as California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and some of the Gulf Coast.
Young hummingbirds hatched late in the season may not have enough time to mature and put on weight needed to survive a long migration. These younger birds may stick around their breeding grounds rather than risk running out of energy during migration.
Some older hummingbirds may also become accustomed to backyard feeding and opt to avoid an exhausting migration. These smarter, territorial hummingbirds will defend feeders to ensure a consistent food supply.
Here are some of the most common hummingbird species known to overwinter in the U.S.:
Species | Summer Range | Overwintering Range |
---|---|---|
Anna’s Hummingbird | Pacific Coast, Southwest U.S. | California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas |
Rufous Hummingbird | Pacific Northwest, Western U.S. | California, Gulf Coast |
Allen’s Hummingbird | California Coast | California Coast |
Calliope Hummingbird | Western Mountains | California, Arizona |
Buff-bellied Hummingbird | Texas, Gulf Coast | Louisiana, Texas Gulf Coast |
As you can see, the milder Pacific Coast and Gulf Coast regions are the most common overwintering spots for hardy hummingbirds willing to tough it out during the colder months.
Provide a Reliable Food Source
The main way to help hummingbirds that stick around for winter is to ensure they have enough calories and nutrition to survive. Hummingbirds have extremely high metabolisms and must consume between 3-7 times their body weight in nectar each day just to survive.
Without adequate food supplies, hummingbirds can quickly burn through their small fat reserves and will not have enough energy to make it through harsh weather and migration in the spring.
Here are some tips for providing food for overwintering hummingbirds:
Keep Feeders Clean and Filled
In the winter, natural nectar sources are scarce. By offering a clean, well-maintained feeder, you can provide the bulk of calories and sugar a hummingbird needs to replace nectar. Check your feeders several times a week and change the nectar completely every 5 days to prevent mold, bacteria, and fermentation which can sicken birds.
Make your own nectar by mixing 1 part white granulated sugar with 4 parts hot water. Do not use any red dyes, honey, or artificial sweeteners which offer no nutrition. During cold snaps, bring feeders indoors overnight to prevent liquid from freezing.
Provide High-Energy Sugary Foods
In addition to nectar, you can provide extra calories and some nutrition by offering sliced oranges, apples, and other fruit. Leave fruit pits or cores intact and pierce the fruit with small twigs or skewers so the hummingbirds can easily perch and feed.
Avoid tropical fruits which tend to freeze. Grapes cut in half, raisins, currants, and other dried fruits are also excellent winter foods enjoyed by hummingbirds.
Include Pollen and Insect Substitutes
Hummingbirds get essential protein, vitamins, minerals, and fat from small insects and flower pollen they eat while foraging. You can provide substitutes in winter by sprinkling bee pollen in your feeder or hanging a fine mesh bag of crumbled suet or mealworms near your feeder. Some commercial nectar mixes also contain added nutrients and electrolytes.
Try Heated Perches
Heated perches attached to feeders use electricity or solar power to slightly warm the perch. This helps reduce hummingbird’s energy expenditure and makes it easier for them to maintain their high body temperature in icy weather.
Provide Multiple Feeder Locations
By setting up 2-3 feeder stations around your property, you ensure hummingbirds always have a backup food source nearby. Separate competing birds by placing feeders out of sight from one another.
Avoid Overfeeding
While keeping feeders full is important, it’s also possible to provide too much nectar which can spoil and become unhealthy. Start with just 1-2 feeders and monitor to ensure all food is being consumed so none is wasted. Increase feeders only if your population grows.
Supplement Food With Flowers
Planting winter-blooming flowers and shrubs provides small amounts of nature’s nectar to supplement feeders. Some good winter-flowering plants include:
- Camellias
- Loquats
- Flowering quince
- Winter hazel
- Witch hazel
- Winter honeysuckle
Aim for tubular red or orange flowers which attract hummingbirds best. Even a few blossoms can provide vital nutrition to help hummingbirds get the mix of nutrients they need.
Provide Shelter and Protection
In addition to food, hummingbirds also need shelter from the elements and protection from predators. Here are some tips:
Leave Existing Nest Sites Undisturbed
Many overwintering hummingbirds will reuse old nest sites as temporary winter shelter. Avoid trimming trees and bushes or removing old nests. Hummingbirds may return to them for cover during storms or to safely roost overnight in a state of torpor.
Add Windbreaks
Add structures that block wind and create calmer microclimates. Strategically placed trellises, walls, deciduous trees, tall shrubs, or fencing can dissipate chilling winds and frosts that sap hummingbird energy.
Provide Roost Boxes or Wooden Shelters
You can hang small roosting boxes or open-bottomed shelters filled with pine needles or cypress mulch to mimic cavity nests. Place them on poles or hang from eaves in protected spots out of prevailing winds. Face the entrance south or east.
Supply Synthetic “Leaf Litter”
Scattered shredded aspen bedding, cork, wool fiber, or synthetic leaf litter faux-mulch gives hummingbirds spaces to hunker down out of sight.
Allow Moss and Lichens to Grow
The fuzzy growth provides insulation and hides small birds. Avoid removing tree moss or rock and roof lichens.
Add Water Features that Don’t Freeze
Dripping fountains, solar fountains, or heated birdbaths give hummingbirds a winter water source for drinking and bathing. Add rocks for perching near the water’s edge.
Keep Cats Indoors
Cats are among the biggest threats to hummingbirds. A study in Nature Communications found outdoor cats in the U.S. kill between 1.3 to 4 billion birds a year. Keep pets indoors to protect helpless hummingbirds sitting in torpor.
Other Winter Hummingbird Care Tips
Here are some additional things you can do to make your yard as hummingbird-friendly as possible during winter:
Wait to Prune Plants Until Spring
Leave any remaining seeds, fruits, or flowers on trees and shrubs for winter food sources. Wait to prune until late winter to early spring before nesting season ramps up.
Supply Tree Sap or Syrup
Some people report hummingbirds drinking diluted maple syrup or diluted tree sap from holes drilled in trees. Only provide very dilute mixes as the sugar content is high.
Avoid Using Pesticides
Hummingbirds can be poisoned by consuming insects killed by pesticides. Avoid use near feeders and shelter areas.
Report Banded Birds
If you spot a hummingbird with a tiny numbered band, you can report it to help scientists track migration. Include when and where the bird was sighted.
Watch for Signs of Trouble
Listlessness, excessive fluffing of feathers, shivering, or lethargy can be signs a hummingbird is in trouble. Capture and rehabilitate sick birds.
Spread the Word
Educate neighbors on providing shelter and food. More homes caring for hummingbirds helps the entire population survive.
Don’t Disturb Torpid Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds in overnight torpor may appear dead but are not. Do not disturb them unless weather drops below freezing.
Conclusion
Providing a continuous supply of fresh nectar along with sugars, insects, and shelter is the best way to help hummingbirds that stick around into the winter rather than migrate. With a little preparation and care, you can create a hummingbird-friendly oasis that provides life-saving nutrients and protection from the elements so these tiny birds can survive until spring. The delight of seeing hummingbirds buzzing around your feeders even in the dead of winter makes the extra effort well worth it. Do your part to help these migratory pollinators and you’ll be rewarded with up close views of their glittering colors and spirited antics all season long.