How long do hummingbirds stay on Long Island?

Hummingbirds are amazing little birds that capture the imagination with their energetic flying and hovering. Their tiny size and vibrant colors make them a delight to watch. Many hummingbird species migrate long distances, traveling between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. On Long Island, hummingbirds stop to rest and refuel during their migrations. But how long do they actually stay in the area?

When do hummingbirds arrive on Long Island?

Most hummingbird species pass through Long Island twice a year during their spring and fall migrations. Here are the typical arrival times:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird: This is the most common hummingbird seen on Long Island. They usually arrive in early May for the spring migration. Some of the earliest sightings are in late April.
• Rufous Hummingbird: This western species is a rare visitor to Long Island, mostly showing up in fall and winter. They arrive as early as late July and August.
• Calliope Hummingbird: Another western hummingbird that rarely stops by Long Island, usually in fall migration in September and October.
• Black-chinned Hummingbird: A rare fall migrant, occasionally seen in October and November.

So in spring, hummingbirds return to Long Island starting in April and May. In fall, west coast species start arriving in July and August, while the Ruby-throats pass through starting September and October on their way further south.

When do hummingbirds leave Long Island?

The departure schedule is similar to the arrival times, just in reverse order:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Most leave Long Island by late September to mid October for their fall migration south.
• Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds: These western species clear out by November, though some may overwinter in warmer microclimates.
• Black-chinned Hummingbird: Rare fall migrants gone by December.

So most hummingbirds are gone from Long Island by late fall. The exceptions are Anna’s and Allen’s Hummingbirds from the west coast. Both have been known to occasionally overwinter in protected microclimates on Long Island until early spring.

How long do hummingbirds stay on Long Island?

Given their arrival and departure schedules, here is how long each hummingbird species typically spends on Long Island:

So most hummingbirds only pass through briefly, staying 1-2 months at the most. Only Anna’s and Allen’s occasionally stick it out through the winter until next spring.

What do hummingbirds do during their stay on Long Island?

During their time on Long Island, hummingbirds are focused on resting and refueling for their strenuous migrations. Here are some of their key activities:

• Eating: Hummingbirds need lots of food to power their wings for migrating. They will visit both natural food sources and backyard feeders multiple times a day to drink nectar and eat small insects.
• Resting: Migration takes huge energy, so hummingbirds spend a good amount of time perched and resting. Look for them perching in trees, on wires, or even resting overnight by going into torpor.
• Storing fat: Hummingbirds need to pack on as much fat as possible before migratory flights over water. The extra fat provides vital energy over these exhausting journeys.
• Exploring: Young hummingbirds may wander outside their normal range during migration. On Long Island, they often explore different food sources and habitat than they are used to.

In addition to eating and resting, time on Long Island gives hummingbirds a chance to bulk up their fat stores and explore unfamiliar habitats and food sources. This helps prepare them for the long migrations ahead.

Do hummingbirds breed and nest on Long Island?

Most hummingbirds that pass through Long Island do not stick around to breed. The exceptions are Anna’s and Allen’s Hummingbirds who occasionally overwinter. There are a few rare reports of them attempting to nest in winter or early spring if conditions allow.

However, the vast majority of migrating hummingbirds simply pass through in spring and fall without nesting or breeding on Long Island. Their focus is resting up and fueling for migration rather than expending energy on courtship, nest construction, and raising young.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only species that regularly breeds on Long Island in summer after migrating from southern wintering grounds. Most other species lack enough time and resources to successfully nest during brief migratory stopovers.

Do the same hummingbirds stop on Long Island every year?

In some cases, yes, individual hummingbirds may faithfully stop on Long Island during migrations year after year. A few factors support this:

• Banding studies that successfully track individual hummingbirds over time show they often follow the same migratory routes and make the same stopovers annually.
• Hummingbirds may remember reliable food sources from previous trips and return to those same yards and feeders.
• Young hummingbirds imprint on migration routes and stopover sites, often retracing the same paths as adults.

However, it can be challenging to confirm if the same individuals return. Hummingbirds of the same species look very similar. Unless banded, it is difficult to identify individuals just by sight.

There are likely cases of both fidelity to Long Island stopover sites in some individuals as well as exploration of new routes and feeding areas by others. Banding studies provide the best evidence that hummingbirds often faithfully follow ancestral migration paths over many years.

What are the best places to spot hummingbirds on Long Island?

Here are some top spots for seeing migrating and breeding hummingbirds on Long Island:

• Backyard feeders – Well-maintained hummingbird feeders with fresh nectar provide a reliable food source for migrating hummingbirds in spring and fall.
• Botanical gardens & public gardens – Gardens provide nectar sources from specialized flowering plants and shrubs that attract hummingbirds.
• Nature preserves – Protected natural areas offer native vegetation, wildflowers, and habitat attractive to hummingbirds during migration.
• Woodland edges & meadows – Forest edges and wildflower meadows provide insects and nectar sources for foraging hummingbirds.
• Backyard plantings – Gardens incorporating trumpet vine, bee balm, fuchsia, and other hummingbird-favored flowers will draw in visitors.

In addition, keeping an eye on rare bird alerts can give you a heads up when less common species like Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds are spotted on Long Island during migration.

How can I make my yard attractive to migrating hummingbirds?

You can turn your yard into a hummingbird hotspot with a few key steps:

• Put up hummingbird feeders with fresh nectar in spring and summer.
• Plant a diversity of hummingbird-pollinated flowers and blooming shrubs.
• Provide a water mister or fountain for bathing and drinking.
• Let part of your yard grow wild to attract more insects.
• Avoid using pesticides that reduce food sources.
• Set up a hummingbird nesting area if you live on eastern Long Island.

Making your yard welcoming with food, water sources, shelter, and nesting areas will increase your chances of lingering migratory hummingbird visitors.

Best hummingbird flowers and plants for Long Island:

• Trumpet Vine
• Bee Balm
• Butterfly Weed
• Fuchsia
• Azaleas
• Impatiens
• Petunias
• Salvia
• Gladiolus
• Coral Bells
• Columbine
• Hostas

Conclusion

Most hummingbirds only remain on Long Island for a few months at a time during spring and fall migrations. While here, they are focused on resting, eating, and storing up energy for their coming travels. With a welcoming yard providing food, water, and shelter, you stand the best chance of spotting these special migrants during the windows when they pass through.