Ruby Throated Hummingbird Migration South

Some rubythroats fly over land following the coastline to reach their wintering grounds.

Ruby throated hummingbird migration south.

During migration some birds embark on a nonstop 900 mile journey across the gulf of mexico and caribbean from panama or mexico to the eastern united states. I only get hummingbirds in my backyard in lethbridge during fall migration usually in mid august. It is true that most hummingbirds fly north in the spring and south in the winter to complete the hummingbird migration. I don t know how long she will stay but i saw her yesterday morning and evening 08 14 2020.

The map below shows the approximate spring migration arrival dates for ruby throated hummingbirds in north america. This female ruby throated hummingbird is my first hummingbird of the year. In more northern states first arrivals are not until april or may. In fact it s the only one that breeds east of the mississippi river.

Migration south begins in late august and will continue through to mid september. By mid to late march they will begin reaching the southern tips of many gulf coast states such as texas and louisiana. There are exceptions such as the anna s hummingbird. Ruby throated hummingbirds will typically begin their northern migration in late february to early march.

What happens when migrating ruby throated hummingbirds reach the gulf of mexico. The ruby throated hummingbird is one of the most commonly found hummingbirds of the united states. They generally fly along the eastern coast along ruby throated hummingbirds spend the winters months anywhere from northern panama to southern mexico. Their breeding range extends into several canadian provinces.

On the other hand the ruby throated hummingbird the most predominate of the eastern states may not arrive in the northern states and canada until may. The ruby throated hummingbird is migratory spending most of the winter in florida southern mexico and central america as far south as extreme western panama and the west indies. Most rubythroats fly nonstop 500 miles or more across the water to mexico and other central american countries. For most people ruby throated hummingbirds are going to be what many people considered to be just a generic hummingbird.

To reach these eastern breeding grounds the ruby throated hummingbird takes a perilous route of flying over 500 miles non stop over the gulf of mexico. These hummingbirds have a very strict routine often returning to the same area each and every year. Ruby throated hummingbird spring migration first arrivals in the spring usually males are back in texas and louisiana in late february to mid march.