Just like other birds, hummingbirds too have a migratory order which they follow all year round. Their route is basically divided into two- one in which they embark on their long and tiring journey to south, and the other, in which they fly back to north. Flying for thousands of miles, these teeny-tiny iridescent creatures cover a good part of north and south america. Passionate birders eagerly wait for them to arrive in their yards and parks.

Considering its body size, it is hard to believe that this smallest bird in the world has the capacity to travel miles and miles shuttling between north and south america. It is important to know that hummingbirds seek warmer breeding grounds. They don’t migrate in flocks, rather travel these distances in a solitary manner during the day and rest at night. The migratory pattern of a hummingbird is so foreseeable that the birders await their arrival in their backyards with feeders all set with fresh nectar, and blooming colorful flowers.

During the winters, ruby-throats and others spend most of their time in the south of Mexico and the upper parts of Panama. This is because their staple diet – insects, are not easily available in the chilling temperatures of north america. For their long journey to the south, these magnificent birds increase their body weight by up to 40 percent, in order to gain energy for long flights. They gorge on insects, spiders and drink nectar almost equal to their own weight. Insects are a primary source of protein for them while nectar gives them strength.

Northward Migration

Most hummingbirds spend the winters in Mexico and northern Panama. They begin flying north as early as January, and remain closer to the grounds for replenishing their energies and adding fat to their bodies for the further journey. They cover the Gulf of Mexico and fly along the Texas going further north. Hummingbirds achieve this amazing feat through a nonstop flight of up to 500 miles. They do this approximately 18-22 hours, all depending on the weather conditions. They travel in the day and rest at night. They consume enough food to double their weight from about 3 gms to approx. 6 gms. Their path covers Florida and its islands i.e. along the Gulf coast. This whole migration for  these miniature birdies takes around 3 to 4 months. One thing about hummingbirds which makes them the most anticipated backyard charms is that they follow the same path of migration which they did last year. There are good chances for you to see your favourite hummer arrive a little ahead of its schedule. Keep the feeders ready for them. There are special feeders available which are meant for hummingbirds only.

Upon reaching the U.S., these birds feast on the fresh nectar from newly bloomed flowers. Here, their migration speed comes to 20 miles an hour for their onward to Canada. Not all hummingbirds enter Canada. Some prefer to stay back in the U.S. By the month of May these birds complete the northward migration to their breeding grounds in the U.S. and Canada. Here, they stay until fall and receive love and care from the north american hummer enthusiasts.

Southward Migration

As the winters approach, nectar filled flowers stop blooming, and insects are a rare find. This seasonal change makes it difficult for the hummers to survive due to scarcity of food. For this reason they start moving south to warmer grounds in search of food. In the month of july, their downward journey starts. But it is the month of August when this migration hits its peak. Almost all the hummingbirds retreat to their winter grounds. Rufous and some other species of the western mountain areas are okay to some extent with the dropping temperatures. You may still find these skirting the area. Since north america is their breeding ground, so while their trip to south the number of hummingbirds are up because of the hatchlings that came up in the summers. An interesting typing about the hummingbird migration is that these birds always follow the same route every time they fly the continents.

Factors Influencing The Migration

• Hunt For Food: Food availability makes these birds fly these long distances. Flowers bloom as per their season and lead to migration patterns of these birds too. So does the availability of insects. .
• Weather Conditions: If you feel a delay in the arrival of the birds in your backyard or your area, it could be because of the existing weather conditions in their migratory route. Sometimes they wait for the conditions to get better and then they resume their flights.
• Age Factor: The oldies and the experienced ones start their migration earlier than the newbies. This is because the new ones need more time to gather the strength to fly such long distances.
• Male vs Female: in almost all the species it has been observed that the males travel first, followed by females with a gap of nearly 10 days. This is done in order to mark their territories and welcome the females for courtship.
• Distance: The rufous hummingbird has the longest migration of any hummingbird species and hence starts its journey way ahead of them. The longer the distance to fly the earlier the bird will start its journey. All the way from Mexico to Alaska, covering major parts of the U.S, these small creatures fly humongous distances compared to their size.

Since these lovely creatures have a set pattern for their migration, it becomes evident for the birdwatchers to keep the binoculars ready and feeders filled.