Hummingbirds are fascinating little birds that capture the imagination with their diminutive size, dazzling colors, and remarkable speed. Many hummingbird species migrate long distances each year, traveling between their summer breeding grounds and winter non-breeding grounds. However, some hummingbird species are able to reside year-round in certain warm climates that provide the food resources necessary to sustain them throughout the seasons.
Do any hummingbirds stay in the same place year-round?
Yes, there are a number of hummingbird species that are non-migratory and remain in the same geographic region throughout the year. The specific areas where these resident hummingbirds live depend on the particular species and habitat needs. But generally, hummingbirds that do not migrate are found in tropical and subtropical climates in North, Central, and South America.
Some examples of hummingbirds that may reside in the same area year-round include:
- Anna’s Hummingbird – ranges along the Pacific Coast from southern Canada to northern Baja California.
- Allen’s Hummingbird – found along the California coast and coastal mountains.
- Rufous-crested Coquette – resident in Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
- White-necked Jacobin – found in Costa Rica, Panama, and northwestern Colombia.
- Vervain Hummingbird – resident in the Bahamas and Cuba.
These hummingbird species are able to live in the same habitat throughout the year because of the relatively warm, steady climates and availability of food, water, shelter, and nesting sites. The presence of flowering plants, nectar-bearing flowers, small insects, and suitable habitat allows them to meet their nutritional and breeding requirements without migrating.
What factors allow some hummingbirds to remain year-round?
There are several key factors that enable certain hummingbird species to reside in the same area throughout the year:
Climate: The most important factor is a suitable climate that remains relatively warm and stable year-round. Most hummingbirds that do not migrate live primarily in tropical or subtropical regions where freezing winter temperatures are uncommon. Places that do not experience harsh winters provide a more hospitable habitat.
Food availability: Abundant food sources are critical. Hummingbirds need lots of high-energy nectar from flowers and small insects like gnats, aphids, and fruit flies. Areas with year-round flowering plants, fruiting shrubs, and plenty of insects can support non-migrating hummingbirds.
Water: A reliable, accessible source of water is vital for hummingbird survival. Streams, ponds, fountains, irrigated yards, and even bird baths provide essential hydration.
Shelter: Dense trees, shrubs, and vegetation give hummingbirds shelter and materials to build nests. Protected roosting and nesting sites help hummingbirds conserve energy.
Territory: Resident hummingbirds will fiercely defend a feeding territory throughout the seasons once established. This grants them reliable access to food.
The combination of these key resources allows non-migratory hummingbirds to prosper in tropical and subtropical climates. The habitat meets all their needs so migration is unnecessary.
Where are some specific places hummingbirds stay year-round?
Here are details on some of the regions and locations where certain hummingbird species remain throughout the year:
Southeastern Arizona
Southeastern Arizona’s warm desert climate makes it a hotspot for overwintering hummingbirds. Up to 14 species have been recorded staying through fall and winter rather than migrating including Rufous, Black-chinned, Anna’s, Costa’s, and Broad-billed hummingbirds. Popular areas to spot non-migrating hummingbirds include Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Miller Canyon, and Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve. Abundant flowering plants like agave provide nectar.
Southern Texas
The Rio Grande Valley and Gulf Coast of southern Texas host at least a dozen overwintering hummingbird species, especially along the border with Mexico. Parks like Estero Llano Grande State Park and Sabal Palm Sanctuary see wintering Buff-bellied, Violet-crowned, and White-eared hummingbirds. Backyard feeders also attract resident hummingbirds thanks to the warm climate.
Southern Florida
Hummingbirds like the endemic Ruby-throated are present year-round in southern Florida. The Keys and Everglades region provide key wintering grounds. Hotspots include Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Everglades National Park, and Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge where tropical vegetation supplies food.
Pacific Coast
California’s Pacific coastline has several species of hummingbirds that breed during summer and remain through winter including Anna’s, Allen’s, Costa’s, Black-chinned, and Rufous. Coastal towns like Santa Barbara and San Diego have lots of flowering plants and backyard feeders to sustain overwintering birds.
Western Mexico
Mexico’s tropical coastal regions and inland mountains host hummingbird species like the Berylline Hummingbird, Violet Sabrewing, and White-eared Hummingbird year-round. Reserves like Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve and El Cielo Biosphere Reserve harbor dozens of resident hummingbird species. Mexico has the world’s highest diversity of hummingbirds.
Central America
Hummingbirds abound in Central America’s tropical forests and gardens. Countries like Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and Honduras have dozens of hummingbird species that reside year-round like the Violet Sabrewing, Green-breasted Mango, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, and more. Orchid gardens and rainforest preserves provide habitat.
South America
The tropics of South America support over 140 species of hummingbirds, many of which do not migrate. Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia are homes to year-round hummingbirds like the Booted Racket-tail, Black-eared Fairy, and Many-spotted Hummingbird. Lowland rainforests have very high hummingbird diversity.
How do hummingbirds survive cold snaps in winter?
Hummingbirds are very vulnerable to cold temperatures given their high metabolism and small body size. However, resident hummingbirds in areas prone to occasional winter freezes and cold snaps have adapted some key survival strategies:
- They seek shelter in dense vegetation, cavities, and crevices which provide insulation.
- They fluff up their feathers to create air pockets for insulation.
- They lower their body temperature and heart rate at night to conserve energy.
- They feed heavily when food is available to store fat reserves.
- They enter short bouts of torpor, a mini-hibernation to reduce energy needs.
Access to adequate shelter and food sources can help hummingbirds survive if a cold spell lasts a few days. But an extended freeze can be life-threatening. Providing clean, unfrozen nectar, removing ice from feeders, and keeping water sources ice-free assists overwintering hummingbirds during cold snaps. Planting early-blooming flowers helps too.
Do hummingbirds migrate through areas they also reside in?
It’s common for hummingbirds to migrate through the same areas where other populations of that species reside year-round. For example, Anna’s Hummingbirds are summer breeding residents across much of the Pacific Coast. But many will migrate south in fall and winter as well.
The migrating Anna’s will pass through coastal California all the way down to Mexico where resident Anna’s Hummingbird populations live in the winter. Rufous Hummingbirds also migrate through much of the western U.S. and Mexico where year-round populations occur.
So the migratory and resident populations overlap significantly. This phenomenon occurs because hummingbirds migrate along set routes called “flyways” that provide ideal habitat and food sources. The needs of migrating hummingbirds are met in the same places that support year-round residents. Coastal California and Mexico contain ideal habitat, flowers, and small insects at all seasons even if the bird populations present shift. This allows both migratory and resident hummingbirds to make use of these key resources in different seasons.
How can you attract hummingbirds to stay year-round?
Here are some tips to make your yard or garden attractive for hummingbirds that reside year-round:
- Plant a variety of native plants that bloom at different times of year to provide a continuous nectar source.
- Include flowering trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials especially ones with tubular red or orange flowers.
- Choose plants that fruit in winter like honeysuckle, fuchsia, and lantana.
- Add a hummingbird feeder and keep it freshly stocked with nectar especially during seasonal food shortages.
- Include Salvias, Sages, Columbines, Trumpet Vines, and Fuschias which hummingbirds love.
- Provide a small water feature like a mister, fountain, or bird bath for drinking and bathing.
- Allow flowering weeds like dandelions which provide important early season nectar.
- Supply cover and roosting sites such as dense shrubs and trees.
The goal is to create an inviting habitat with food, water, cover, and nesting sites to meet the year-round needs of resident hummingbirds. This will entice them to call your yard home even when their migratory relatives have traveled south for the winter.
Conclusion
While many hummingbird species embark on incredible migrations each year, others have adapted the ability to reside permanently in tropical and subtropical climates that meet their needs. Access to food, shelter, water, and nesting sites allows certain hummingbirds to remain in the same region throughout the year provided the habitat supports them. Creating a welcoming oasis with plants that provide year-round blooms and nectar can attract these remarkable birds to stay in one’s yard even when the seasons change. With careful landscaping choices, even freezing locations can host overwintering hummingbirds. The diversity of hummingbirds and their behaviors is fascinating to observe and study no matter where your home lies along their migratory route.