(Of course, some birds will stay in the U.S. November: Upon completing their fall migration, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will begin to molt.ĭecember: Molting takes its toll, so hummingbirds spend time gorging themselves on the nectar and insects they can find. In fact, they spend most of their time preparing for the trip back north. Their winters aren’t all sun and fun though. Because Ruby-throats are solitary birds, individuals will migrate to any location within this range. The majority of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds spend their winters between southern Mexico and northern Panama. If you have a well-maintained hummingbird feeder, expect plenty of new visitors as they try to boost their energy before the next stage of their journey. It’s this amazing cycle of hummingbird migration that can also bring a sudden swarm of activity to your hummingbird feeders. Hummingbirds can set out as early as late July and the last stragglers will cross the southern U.S. The fall southern hummingbird migration follows a similar timeframe. With that sort of pressure, this hummingbird migration can begin as early as February in Mexico and finish in mid-May in Canada and Alaska. Their spring migration north, from South America and Mexico up to Canada, is a solitary journey with the goal of getting to their breeding grounds early enough to claim the best feeding territories. These migratory journeys, which can span hundreds or thousands of miles, require immense preparation and a shocking amount of energy from these small birds - the smallest in the world. You can keep track of where they are here.Each year, hummingbirds embark on two migrations – one north and one south. They are on their way! As of April 7th, 2021, swarms have been spotted in New Jersey, and some have been sighted in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The time of year when hummingbirds migrate to Massachusetts has arrived. While their diet generally consists of devouring pests like aphids, fruit flies, gnats, and mosquitos, their love for the sweetest nectar nature produces means that anyone who puts out a bird feeder with sugar water will increase their chances of a sighting or visit. Courtship consists of the men do fancy dive bombs which apparently are a show of prowess that females find irresistible.Īll these things considered, it’s no wonder that so many of us residing in Massachusetts absolutely love hummingbirds and look forward to their annual migration, returning from their winter “vacation” in Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, or Central America. On average hummingbirds live between 3-5 years, but some as short as one year. With wings that flap between an unbelievable 12 and 80 times a second and the ability to hover or even pull off aerial stunts, many people consider their visit a portent or omen of good luck and everyone feels fortunate to be able to even snap a photo.Įqually amazing factoids? They can attain top speeds in excess of 34 mph, have the highest mass-specific metabolic rate of any homeothermic animal (maintain a stable internal body temperature regardless of outside influence), and when needed can enter a sort of hibernation called torpor whereby they slow their body temperature and metabolic rate. The largest ones are about 9 inches tall and weigh between a half-pound to slightly more than 3/4 of a pound.īranching off from their distant cousins, the swift, about 42 million years ago, the beloved hummingbirds are famous for not only their size but how adorable they are. For comparison that is the weight of 2 paper clips or dollar bills, or a teaspoon of sugar. They come in an amazing array of varieties and colors with the tiniest, the Bee Hummingbird coming in at a wee 2 inches and weighing. These tiny avians are found in tropical climates and even in colder areas like Alaska. Did you know that hummingbirds are native to the Americas and that there are a staggering 360 species as of 2020?
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