Hummingbirds are a beloved sight in Southern California, darting from flower to flower with their quickly beating wings. These tiny birds bring color and energy to backyards and gardens during their time in the region each year. But how long do hummingbirds actually stay in Southern California?
When do hummingbirds arrive in Southern California?
Hummingbirds typically start arriving in Southern California in early February. The Anna’s hummingbird is the most common year-round resident hummingbird in the region. However, most hummingbirds that breed in Southern California are migratory and only spend the spring and summer months in the area.
The Allen’s and rufous hummingbirds arrive in Southern California in February and March. Other migrating hummingbird species like the black-chinned, broad-tailed, calliope hummingbirds, and ruby-throated hummingbirds follow soon after in March and April.
When do hummingbirds leave Southern California?
Most migratory hummingbird species start leaving Southern California in August to return to their wintering grounds. The southward migration typically peaks in mid-September. While a few stragglers may remain into October, most hummingbirds will be gone by the end of September or early October.
Here are the typical departure timeframes for migrating hummingbirds that breed in Southern California:
- Rufous hummingbirds – Mid August to early September
- Allen’s hummingbirds – Mid September to early October
- Black-chinned hummingbirds – Mid September to late September
- Calliope hummingbirds – Late September
- Broad-tailed hummingbirds – Early to mid-September
- Ruby-throated hummingbirds – Early to mid-October
The Anna’s hummingbird does not migrate and will remain year-round. However, their numbers decline in winter months as individuals move towards the coast and farther south in California in search of food.
How many months do hummingbirds stay in Southern California?
Most hummingbirds stay in Southern California for 5-7 months to breed after arriving in late winter and early spring. Here are the approximate durations that migratory hummingbirds stay in Southern California each year:
- Allen’s hummingbird – 5-6 months from March to August/September
- Rufous hummingbird – 5 months from March to August
- Black-chinned hummingbird – 6 months from April to September
- Calliope hummingbird – 5 months from April to September
- Broad-tailed hummingbird – 5-6 months from April to September
- Ruby-throated hummingbird – 6-7 months from April to October
The Anna’s hummingbird can be found year-round in Southern California, though they are more abundant in spring and summer.
What factors influence how long hummingbirds stay?
There are a few key factors that affect how long hummingbirds remain in Southern California each year:
- Food availability – Hummingbirds time their migration and movements based on the flowering and nectar availability in the regions where they breed and winter.
- Weather – Colder temperatures and storms in fall signal it is time to migrate south. Warm, dry conditions in SoCal allow for breeding.
- Day length – Changes in day length help cue both migration and breeding behaviors.
- Age – Younger hummingbirds may leave earlier in fall while older adults depart later.
- Species – Each hummingbird species has a slightly different optimal breeding and wintering range.
Do any hummingbirds stay year-round?
The Anna’s hummingbird is the only species that regularly stays year-round and breeds in Southern California. Some rufous and Allen’s hummingbirds may overwinter in small numbers, but most migrate out of the region.
An estimated 75% of the Anna’s hummingbird population that breeds in Southern California will remain year-round rather than migrating. The Anna’s hummingbird does not handle cold weather as well as other overwintering species like the rufous. However, they can survive in Southern California’s relatively mild coastal and inland climates all year.
Why do hummingbirds migrate out of Southern California?
Hummingbirds primarily migrate out of Southern California in fall because food resources become scarce. Flowers produce less nectar, trees and plants go dormant, and insects become less active. As food decreases, hummingbirds start their southerly migration to warmer climates where flowers are still abundantly blooming.
Other reasons hummingbirds leave Southern California in fall include:
- Colder temperatures make it more difficult for these tiny birds to survive.
- Increased storms, wind, and rain make flying and feeding more challenging.
- Shorter daylight hours trigger hormonal changes linked to migration.
- The departure of breeding birds allows resident birds better access to limited food.
Migrating south in fall enables different hummingbird species to find optimal wintering habitat and resources. The exceptions are Anna’s hummingbirds and limited numbers of rufous and Allen’s, which can withstand Southern California’s cooler winter climate.
Where do hummingbirds that leave Southern California migrate to?
Hummingbirds that breed in Southern California migrate south to winter in Mexico and Central America. Here are the wintering grounds of migratory hummingbird species that spend spring and summer in Southern California:
Hummingbird Species | Wintering grounds |
---|---|
Rufous hummingbird | Mexico and Gulf Coast |
Allen’s hummingbird | Mexico’s Pacific Coast |
Calliope hummingbird | Mexico |
Broad-tailed hummingbird | Mexico |
Black-chinned hummingbird | Mexico |
Ruby-throated hummingbird | Central America |
The availability of flowers, nectar sources, and insects allow hummingbirds to survive the winter in warmer climates to the south. Then they make the return migration north in spring as food resources become plentiful again in California.
What is the best time to see hummingbirds in Southern California?
The best time to see hummingbirds in Southern California is in mid-spring through early fall when most migratory species are breeding in the region. The peak hummingbird viewing period is April through August when diversity and numbers are highest.
Here is an overview of the optimal viewing periods for common hummingbird species that spend spring and summer in Southern California:
- Anna’s hummingbird – This resident species can be seen year-round but is most abundant from March through September.
- Allen’s hummingbird – Peak viewing is from April through July when they are most common.
- Rufous hummingbird – Best viewed from April through July.
- Black-chinned hummingbird – View from April through August when breeding.
- Broad-tailed hummingbird – Present from April through September with peak numbers in June and July.
- Calliope hummingbird – Can be seen from May through September with peak abundance in mid-summer.
- Ruby-throated hummingbird – Rare but can be observed from May through September if present.
To enjoy the full diversity of hummingbirds, late spring through mid-summer are the best months for hummingbird watching in Southern California.
Tips for attracting hummingbirds during their stay
Here are some tips to make your yard or garden as attractive as possible to hummingbirds that breed in or migrate through Southern California:
- Plant a variety of nectar-rich, brightly colored, tubular flowers that bloom throughout the spring and summer.
- Use red feeders to offer supplemental sugar water, making sure to change it frequently.
- Provide a water mister spray for bathing and drinking.
- Let shrubs and trees bloom rather than trimming them early.
- Allow sections of your yard to grow wild with native plants and flowers.
- Eliminate pesticides which reduce insect populations that hummingbirds feed on.
- Set up nesting sites such as native shrubs and trees or pre-made nesting shelves.
By providing food, water, shelter and nesting sites, you can create an attractive refuge for hummingbirds migrating through or breeding in Southern California.
Unique hummingbird behaviors to watch for
Hummingbirds exhibit many fascinating behaviors as they feed, interact, court, mate, and care for their young. Here are some unique hummingbird behaviors you may witness during their time in Southern California:
- Aerial dogfights – Males aggressively chase each other in fast, acrobatic flight displays to claim territory and establish dominance.
- Courtship displays – Males fly in U-shaped or J-shaped patterns, climb and dive repeatedly, and flare feathers to attract females.
- Buzz pollination – Hummingbirds use their rapid wing beats to shake pollen loose from certain flowers.
- Sunbathing – Perching with wings spread wide to soak in the sun’s warmth.
- Anting – Rubbing ants across their bodies, possibly to absorb micronutrients or remove parasites.
- Bathing – Fluttering within or at the edge of water droplets to splash water through their plumage.
- Feeding upside-down – Hovering inverted at nectar sources like trumpet vine flowers.
Observing and photographing the behaviors of hummingbirds while they are present in Southern California can provide many hours of entertainment and fascination!
Interesting facts about hummingbirds in Southern California
- Anna’s hummingbirds produce a distinctive metallic “chip” call that gives them their name.
- Male Anna’s hummingbirds have an elaborate courtship dive reaching speeds of over 60 mph.
- Ruby-throated hummingbirds weigh only 2-4 grams but fly 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico.
- Rufous hummingbirds have the longest migration of any hummingbird, flying up to 4000 miles each way.
- Allen’s hummingbirds build nests as thin as a dime glued with spider silk to a slender branch.
- Hummingbirds beat their wings 12-80 times per second, allowing them to hover and fly backwards.
- Their rapid heart rate reaches up to 1,260 beats per minute while in flight.
- A hummingbird’s tongue has forked tips that lap up nectar at a rate of 13 licks per second.
- To conserve energy at night, hummingbirds go into a hibernation-like state called torpor.
- Hummingbirds have between 1,000 and 1,500 feathers, the fewest of any bird species.
Threats facing hummingbirds in Southern California
Some key threats and challenges facing hummingbirds during their time in Southern California include:
- Habitat loss – Development, fires, drought, and climate change all degrade or destroy the flowering habitats hummingbirds rely on.
- Pesticides – Chemicals reduce insect populations that hummingbirds depend on for food and can accumulate in their systems.
- Outdoor cats – Cats prey on large numbers of birds, including hummingbirds.
- Window collisions – Hummingbirds frequently fly into windows, causing injuries and deaths.
- Extreme heat – Rising temperatures and reduced water sources during drought put hummingbirds at risk of dehydration.
- Nectar competition – Introduced honeybees dominate flowers and spread diseases.
- Poachers – Illegal trade in rare hummingbird species occurring in the wild and in captivity.
Being aware of these threats to hummingbird populations and taking actions such as planting native plants, keeping cats indoors, and reducing pesticide use can help protect hummingbirds that migrate through or breed in the region.
Citizen science opportunities to learn more about hummingbirds
Here are a few citizen science projects Southern California residents can participate in to help study and conserve hummingbirds in the region:
- The Hummingbird Project – Contribute photos, videos, and observations of hummingbirds to this continental database.
- Project FeederWatch – A Cornell Lab birdwatching survey to track winter bird populations and distribution.
- Audubon’s Climate Watch – Volunteer to monitor local bird behaviors and examine responses to climate change.
- eBird – Submit checklists to this global database documenting bird distribution and abundance.
- Hummingbird at Home – Record data on hummingbird nesting success in your own backyard and neighborhood.
- Banding programs – Assist authorized hummingbird banding stations with capture, banding, and release.
Contributing to citizen science efforts helps researchers better understand hummingbird migration patterns, population changes, behavior, and the effects of environmental factors to guide conservation strategies.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are a beloved part of the southern California landscape every spring and summer. While most species only stay for 5-7 months, their beauty, behaviors, and incredible migrations leave a lasting impression. By planting native flowers, providing artificial feeders, and participating in citizen science, residents can support hummingbirds during their temporary but important seasonal residence