Hummingbird Migration
As with most things regarding hummingbirds, the
story of their migration is truly amazing. Most of the 16
species that breed in North America winter in Mexico. One of the longest
travelers is the one I'm familiar with, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
The
Ruby-throated hummer winters in Mexico and
Central America and it's breeding range reaches as far west as Alberta,
east to Nova Scotia, and south through the eastern United States. In
order to return to it's wintering grounds, many Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds fly across the Gulf of Mexico. Others are known to go
through Texas during their southern migration.
There are four species known to reach Canada; Ruby-throated, Calliope,
Black-chinned and Rufous. The Rufous is also known to breed as far north as
Alaska making it the longest traveler.
The mountainous
regions of New Mexico, Arizona and western Texas have the largest number of hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds breeding and migration
times differ from our other common birds. Most songbirds fly south in the fall and then migrate north in the
spring to breed in our area.
Not so with many hummingbirds.
For example, the Rufous, Costa's and Allen's hummingbirds
northward migration begins during January and February. Still winter for most of us. Then the Rufous and Allen's hummingbirds start on their southward migration in May or June.
Very early compared to our songbirds, many of which are still returning north.
This difference in migration patterns also makes for a difference
in breeding times. These early arriving hummingbirds will start breeding in December,
several months before any of our songbirds.
Migration and Breeding Pattern
Allen's Hummingbird
Northward: January through March
Southward: Mid-May through September
Breeding Period: Mid-February to early July
Non-Breeding Range: Central Mexico
|
Anna's Hummingbird
Does not migrate, but moves to areas with more food
Breeding Period: December to June
Non-Breeding Range: Expands range to the north and south
|
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Northward: Mid-March to mid-May
Southward: Mid-May through September
Breeding Period: Mid-August into November
Non-Breeding Range: Western protions of central Mexico.
Also sighted in southern and coastal Texas
|
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Northward: March into May
Southward: August into October
Breeding Period: March to July
Non-Breeding Range: Mountains of Mexico
|
Calliope Hummingbird
Northward: March through May
Southward: Late July through September
Breeding Period: Mid-May through July
Non-Breeding Range: Central Mexico
|
Costa's Hummingbird
Northward: Late January to February
Southward: September and October
Breeding Period: Mid-February through June (or earlier)
Non-Breeding Range: Baja, southeastern California, southwestern Arizona
|
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Northward: Late February to mid-May
Southward: Late July to late October
Breeding Period: Late March into August
Non-Breeding Range: Southern Mexico and Central America
|
Rufous Hummingbird
Northward: February to May
Southward: September and October
Breeding Period: Late June to October
Non-Breeding Range: Southern Mexico
|
Berylline Hummingbird
Only a handful of recorded sightings
Northward: Late January to February
Southward: September and October
U.S. Breeding Period: July to August
U.S. Breeding Range: Mountains of southern Arizona
Non-Breeding Range: Northwestern to central Mexican mountains
|
Blue-throated Hummingbird
Northward: March to May
Southward: August to October
U.S. Breeding Period: April to July
U.S. Breeding Range: Southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico,
and western Texas
Non-Breeding Range: Northern and central Mexico
|
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Northward: March to April
Southward: September to October
U.S. Breeding Period: Mid-April to August
U.S. Breeding Range: Southeast Arizona, southwest new Mexico, western Texas
Non-Breeding Range: Northern and central Mexico
|
Lucifer Hummingbird
Northward: April and May
Southward: September
U.S. Breeding Period: May to August
U.S. Breeding Range: Southeastern Arizona, and western Texas
Non-Breeding Range: Central Mexico
|
Magnificent Hummingbird
Northward: March
Southward: October to November
U.S. Breeding Period: May to July
U.S. Breeding Range: Mountains of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and western Texas
Non-Breeding Range: Central Mexico
|
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Northward: June
Southward: September to October
U.S. Breeding Period: June to August
U.S. Breeding Range: Mountains of southeastern Arizona
and southwestern New Mexico
Non-Breeding Range: Western Mexico
|
White-eared Hummingbird
Northward: April to May
Southward: August to September
U.S. Breeding Period: June to August
U.S. Breeding Range: Southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and western Texas
Non-Breeding Range: Northwestern to central Mexico
|
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Northward: June to July, after breeding
Southward: August
U.S. Breeding Period: March to July
U.S. Breeding Range: Southern Texas
Non-Breeding Range: Gulf coast of Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana
|
