How far do hummingbirds go when they migrate?

Hummingbirds are some of the most remarkable birds on the planet. Despite their diminutive size, these tiny birds embark on incredible migrations every year, traveling thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds. The ruby-throated hummingbird, which summers across much of eastern North America, makes perhaps the most astounding migratory journey, flying non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico twice a year. So just how far do these tiny aviators travel on their annual migrations? Let’s take a closer look at the migration distances of some of the most common hummingbird species.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most widespread and commonly seen hummingbird in eastern North America. This species breeds across the eastern United States and Canada during the summer months. As days get shorter and temperatures begin dropping in late summer, ruby-throats start congregating and feeding heavily to store up fat for their long migration south.

By mid-September, the bulk of the population has departed the northern reaches of their breeding range, migrating south along an inland route through Texas to southern Mexico and Central America. Some ruby-throats follow the Gulf Coast, while the majority make a non-stop 18-20 hour flight of 500-600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula before continuing on to their wintering grounds. Their return trip north covers a similar distance.

Overall, the total migration distance covered by ruby-throated hummingbirds is between 1,800 – 2,500 miles each way. Individuals that summer in northern breeding areas and winter in Central America have some of the longest migration routes of any ruby-throats.

Rufous Hummingbird

The rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a western species that migrates astonishing distances each year. These hummingbirds breed during the summer across a broad swath of western North America from Alaska to California. As winter approaches, rufous hummingbirds migrate south to spend the winter in Mexico and the Gulf Coast region.

The majority of rufous hummingbirds take an overland route through mountain passes to the southwestern United States before spreading out across the Gulf Coast region for the winter. However, some undertake a truly remarkable overwater journey. Many rufous hummingbirds migrate north up the Pacific Coast in the spring, with some crossing the Gulf of Alaska non-stop from Mexico – a flight of up to 2,000 miles over open water. Their southbound trip in the fall covers a similar direct trans-Gulf route.

Total migration distances for rufous hummingbirds range from about 3,900 miles for birds wintering in northern Mexico to as much as 5,000 miles for those traveling to Central America. Their migration is one of the longest of any North American bird in relation to body size.

Calliope Hummingbird

Calliope hummingbirds (Selasphorus calliope) are the smallest breeding bird in North America and undertake an arduous journey each fall and spring. These tiny hummers breed during summer in mountain meadows from southwestern Canada to southern California. As winter approaches, calliopes migrate south through Arizona and New Mexico before crossing the Mexico border and traveling to highland wintering grounds.

The total migration distance covered by calliope hummingbirds is estimated between 2,000 – 3,000 miles each way. Although their migration route is shorter than that of rufous hummingbirds, the journey represents an incredible feat of endurance for these tiny birds.

Allen’s Hummingbird

Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) is a southern California species that migrates relatively short distances compared to other western hummingbirds. Breeding populations of Allen’s hummingbirds are found along coastal California and southern Oregon during summer. When winter arrives, the majority of Allen’s migrate just far enough south to avoid freezing temperatures and prolonged snow cover.

Their migratory route takes them south through California and Arizona to wintering grounds centered in the Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. Although exact migration distances are variable, most Allen’s hummingbirds likely travel 1,000 miles or less each way on their annual travels. This shorter migration distance reduces their exposure to hazards and energetic costs compared to species migrating much farther south.

Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna) is another species found along the Pacific Coast that undertakes a relatively short migration. This large hummingbird takes advantage of artificial feeders and ornamental non-native plants to expand its breeding range northward in recent decades.

Today, Anna’s hummingbirds can be found year-round in many parts of coastal California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. However, some northern populations continue to migrate south in winter. Anna’s that breed in Canada and Alaska migrate between 500-1,500 miles to reach wintering grounds in California and the Pacific Northwest.

Migration Strategies and Hazards

Hummingbirds make their epic migrations in a series of short bursts, stopping frequently to rest and refuel. Their need to regularly stopover puts hummingbirds at greater risk of predation, exposure, and habitat loss. Expanding urbanization has led to loss of critical stopover habitat needed for the birds to successfully complete their journeys.

Stopping over in urban areas with feeders and flowering ornamental plants provides migrating hummingbirds with a welcome source of energy. But many other perils await them along their migration routes and in their wintering grounds, including:

• Collision with buildings, towers, and other structures
• Exhaustion resulting in grounded and weakened birds vulnerable to predators
• Pesticide exposure from ingesting contaminated insects and nectar
• Climate change disrupting timing of flower blooms and migrations
• Loss of food sources and sheltered habitat

Despite these challenges, hummingbirds prove remarkably resilient in their ability to navigate thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds. Maintaining healthy native plant communities along migration routes and safeguarding habitat in wintering areas is key to supporting hummingbird populations undertaking these incredible journeys.

Notable Migration Records

Here are some record-setting marathon migrations reported for hummingbirds banded by researchers:

Longest Ruby-throated Migration

• Bird banded in Ontario, Canada migrated 1,248 miles south to Mandeville, Louisiana

Farthest Rufous Migration

• Bird banded in Fairbanks, Alaska traveled 5,411 miles to Chiapas, Mexico

Oldest Calliope Hummingbird

• After being banded in Utah, a 12 year-old male calliope returned for its 11th migration

Youngest Anna’s on Migration

• Bird banded as a hatchling in British Columbia appeared just two months later during southward migration in California, 1,000 miles away

Average Migration Distances by Species and Region

To summarize the marathon migrations undertaken by hummingbirds, here are average one-way migration distances covered for some of the most common species:

How Do Hummingbirds Navigate Their Migrations?

The incredible navigation abilities of hummingbirds during their marathon migrations has fascinated scientists. These tiny birds manage to find their way thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds year after year. So how do they do it? Research suggests hummingbirds integrate a suite of behavioral strategies and cues to successfully complete their epic journeys:

Celestial and Geomagnetic Cues

Hummingbirds appear capable of using the location of the sun, patterns of stars in the night sky, and the earth’s magnetic field lines to determine their position and direction of travel. Migrating birds may recalibrate their internal compass based on celestial cues at sunset to ensure they maintain their course overnight.

Landscape Features

Mountain ranges, coastlines, rivers, and other landscape features may provide important visual landmarks hummingbirds use to orient themselves on migration. These may act as critical travel corridors directing their route.

Smell-Based Navigation

There is evidence that hummingbirds may use their keen sense of smell to locate favorable stopover habitat along migration routes. The scent of floral nectar sources may act as an olfactory beacon.

Climate Matching

By tracking daily and seasonal temperature changes, hummingbirds can determine when to depart their breeding grounds and precisely time their arrival on wintering grounds where freezing weather is avoided.

Following Flowers

The blooming of certain flower species along an elevation gradient from north to south may act as a sort of nectar guide directing hummingbirds southward in the fall and northward in spring.

Threats Facing Migrating Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds undergo an incredible physical feat making their annual migrations, but face numerous threats along their routes:

• Habitat loss and degradation, especially of sheltered stopover habitat
• Climate change disrupting timing of migrations and food availability
• Collisions with structures like buildings and cell phone towers
• Pesticide exposure through ingestion of contaminated insects and nectar
• Light pollution interfering with celestial navigation cues
• Predation risk, especially for young birds on their first migration

Protecting and restoring habitat along migration corridors, reducing light pollution during key migration periods, and planting native flowering species are important conservation steps. Research tracking hummingbird migrations and identifying key stopover regions helps target habitat protection efforts.

How Hummingbird Enthusiasts Can Help Migrants

Here are some tips for hummingbird watchers and gardening enthusiasts to help support migrating hummingbirds:

• Avoid pruning flowers late in summer when birds need energy for migration
• Plant native species that bloom through late summer and autumn
• Let pollinator-friendly “weeds” like thistles bloom to provide nectar
• Supply clean feeders with fresh nectar through September
• Turn off unnecessary exterior lights at night during migration peaks
• Report sightings and recoveries of banded hummingbirds
• Support habitat conservation programs along flyways

With a welcoming habitat and a little help along the way, migrating hummingbirds can continue their incredible seasonal journeys for generations to come. The marathon migrations of these tiny flying jewels highlight the incredible resilience and tenacity of nature.

Conclusion

Hummingbirds are the smallest migratory birds, yet they undertake some of the most remarkable marathon migrations in the animal kingdom. Spanning thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds, hummingbirds like the ruby-throated in the east and rufous in the west exemplify the incredible endurance of these aerial travelers. Through persistence, adaption, and navigational prowess honed over millennia, hummingbirds continue to make their epic biannual passages despite the threats and obstacles they encounter along the way. Understanding and protecting their migration routes and stopover habitats will ensure future generations of hummingbirds can continue to grace us with their beauty while traversing continents on wings smaller than a penny.