If you’ve noticed an increase in the number of hummingbirds in your yard or garden lately, you’re not alone. Many people report seeing more of these tiny, fast-flying birds at their feeders and flowering plants this time of year. There are a few key reasons why you may be seeing a bumper crop of hummingbirds right now.
It’s Migration Season
One of the biggest factors is that we are currently in peak hummingbird migration season. Hummingbirds that breed in more northern climates, like Canada and the northern United States, are making their way south to their wintering grounds in places like Mexico, Central America, and the southern U.S. states. This southward migration typically starts in late summer and continues into early fall. Places like gardens, backyards, and parks that have food sources like nectar feeders and flowering plants are attractive stopover spots for these traveling hummingbirds to refuel.
So if you live anywhere along the normal migration route, you are likely to see more hummingbirds coming through over the next couple of months as they pass through your area. In the eastern U.S., the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the predominant migratory species, while in the western U.S. species like Rufous and Allen’s Hummingbirds are common migrants.
Natural Food Sources are Plentiful
Another factor contributing to a potential boom in hummingbird activity this time of year is that their natural food sources are at peak availability. Flowers rely on pollinators like hummingbirds, and many species bloom in late summer and fall to attract them. Some examples of popular late-season blooms that appeal to hummingbirds are:
- Salvias
- Trumpet vines
- Cardinals
- Petunias
- Bee balms
- Turtleheads
- Nasturtiums
- Verbenas
- Coral bells
- Veronicas
Areas with an abundance of these and other tubular, nectar-rich flowers are sure to attract foraging hummingbirds. Gardens that provide a continuous sequence of blooms all season long, from spring through fall, give hummingbirds reliable access to the food they need.
Nesting Season Winding Down
Hummingbirds that nested locally over the summer are another source of increased hummer activity in fall. The nesting and breeding season lasts from spring through mid-summer in most regions. The young birds leave the nest and become more active visitors to feeders and flowers as summer progresses.
By late summer and fall, the nesting period is over. The adult females and juvenile birds no longer have nests to attend to, freeing them up to forage and wander more widely. This results in more hummingbirds dispersing through local areas, even if the resident birds nested close by. The post-breeding dispersal and increased movement makes hummingbirds more visible and abundant-seeming.
Preparing for Migration Takes Energy
Hummingbirds have incredibly high metabolisms and need to constantly refuel. As they prepare for migration by building up fat stores for their long journeys, their hunger and thirst increase dramatically. This leads them to visit more feeders and flower patches to satisfy their calorie and nutrient needs.
In just a day, a hummingbird may consume over half its body weight in nectar. Feeders and artificial nectar provide a convenient high-energy food source for hummingbirds bulking up before migration or replenishing after arriving at stopover sites. This supplementary feeding helps support higher numbers of hummingbirds in a given area.
How to Support Visiting Hummingbirds
If you are hoping to attract even more hummingbirds to your outdoor space, there are a few key strategies to try:
- Plant more native flowers and shrubs that provide nectar. Choose varieties that bloom in late summer and fall.
- Consider adding a few more hummingbird feeders in strategic spots around your yard.
- Use a concentrated commercial nectar formula and change it frequently to ensure freshness.
- Provide a water source like a mister, fountain, or bird bath for drinking and bathing.
- Limit or avoid pesticide use, which can reduce insect populations that hummingbirds feed on.
- Provide small trees and shrubs for shelter and perches between feeder visits.
With a little planning and effort, you can turn your yard into an inviting habitat and reliable food source for migrating and resident hummingbirds alike.
Tips for Identifying Visiting Hummingbird Species
If you want to go beyond just observing the increased hummingbird activity and start identifying the different species, here are some tips:
- Get a good field guide or download an app to help you learn the species in your region.
- Pay attention to key identification points like size, bill shape, color patterns, wing shapes, and tail shapes.
- Look for distinguishing behaviors like aerial displays, wing buzzing, chattering, perching preferences.
- Consider setting up camera traps or video recording feeders to capture identifying features.
- Keep detailed notes and descriptions to document the species you encounter.
- Report unusual or rare species sightings to local experts and databases.
With practice over time, you’ll get better at recognizing the hummingbird species that pass through or take up residence in your yard. Keep an eye out as migration peaks over the next few months.
Appreciating the Magic of Hummingbirds
Seeing an influx of hummingbirds can be a magical experience. Their speedy maneuvers, aerobatic stunts, buzzing wings, and bold but charming personalities add an element of wonder and surprise to your days. Watching them interact at feeders or compete over flower patches provides free entertainment.
Beyond their beauty and appeal, hummingbirds also play an important ecological role as pollinators for native plants and predators helping control insects. Providing your yard as a habitat contributes to hummingbird conservation.
So take the time to appreciate and enjoy these tiny visitors. You can attract and support them without much effort. The increase in hummingbirds you spot from late summer into fall is a reminder of nature’s cycles and the approaching change of seasons.
| Hummingbird Species | Migration Pattern | Identifying Traits |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Long distance migrant throughout eastern U.S. and Canada | Males have ruby red throat, females lack red throat patch |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Long distance migrant in western North America | Distinctive rusty colored plumage on back and belly |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | Common along the west coast | Green back, rusty tail, bold orange throat patch on males |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | Year-round resident across west coast and some southeast states | Emerald green back, grey underparts, red head patch in males |
This table provides some examples of common migratory and resident hummingbird species in North America and tips for identifying them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there suddenly so many hummingbirds at my feeder?
In late summer and fall, several factors converge to bring more hummingbirds to feeders: southbound migrators stopping to refuel, young birds dispersing from local nests, pre-migration weight gain driving appetite, and peak natural food bloom. Providing a feeder helps support the increased activity.
How long will this abundance of hummingbirds last?
The peak of hummingbird activity typically lasts from August through early October in most regions. Some hummingbirds will continue passing through into November. Resident birds may visit feeders year-round. Migration and natural food cycles bring the largest crowds.
What is the best way to attract hummingbirds?
Providing a continuous sequence of tubular blooms, adding more feeders with fresh nectar, and eliminating pesticides are some of the best ways to make your yard attractive for hummingbirds.
How can I identify hummingbird species?
Carefully observe size, bill shape, plumage color patterns, flight style, and behavior. Use field guides and technology like apps and cameras. Take notes and report unusual sightings.
Do hummingbirds migrate every year?
Most hummingbird species in North America are migratory, traveling southward in fall from their summer breeding grounds and northward again each spring. Some southern species, like Anna’s Hummingbird, may reside year-round in some parts of their range.
Conclusion
Late summer and early fall marks a period of transition for hummingbirds. The factors of migration season, blooming flowers, nesting cycles, and pre-migration weight gain all converge to create a spike in hummingbird populations in many regions. This influx leads to increased activity and sightings around feeders and flower gardens.
Enjoy this seasonal hummingbird boom by tuning into their behaviors, identifying different visitors, and providing a welcoming habitat. With some small efforts, you can contribute to the wellbeing of these captivating migrants and residents.
Watching the hummingbird abundance is a reminder of nature’s rhythms and the passing of summer into autumn. Before you know it, the busy hummers zooming around your yard will be just a warm memory to revisit until next year’s migration.
