Ruby Red Throated Hummingbird Migration

These brilliant tiny precision flying creatures glitter like jewels in the full sun then vanish with a zip toward the next nectar source.

Ruby red throated hummingbird migration.

Over land or water. First arrivals in the spring usually males are back in texas and louisiana in late february to mid march. Ruby throated hummingbird spring migration. What happens when migrating ruby throated hummingbirds reach the gulf of mexico.

Ruby throated hummingbird migration route. Hundreds of kinds of hummingbirds nest in the american tropics and more than a dozen in the western u s but east of the great plains there is only the ruby throat. For most people ruby throated hummingbirds are going to be what many people considered to be just a generic hummingbird. Most rubythroats fly nonstop 500 miles or more across the water to mexico and other central american countries.

Impressive migrants despite their small size some ruby throats may. They are the most common in the united states especially in the eastern half. There it is fairly common in summer in open woods and gardens. Each year ruby throated hummingbirds along with a few other hummingbird species take part in a long journey known as migration.

The map below shows the approximate spring migration arrival dates for ruby throated hummingbirds in north america. In more northern states first arrivals are not until april or may. To get there from their north american breeding grounds some birds embark on a marathon nonstop flight across the gulf of mexico. The front line of the migration has moved into alberta manitoba saskatchewan ontario quebec new brunswick prince edward island and nova scotia.

This shows estimated arrival dates of ruby throated hummingbirds based on previous years. Ruby throated hummingbirds winter in mexico and central america. These hummingbirds have a very strict routine often returning to the same area each and every year. A flash of green and red the ruby throated hummingbird is eastern north america s sole breeding hummingbird.

Some rubythroats fly over land following the coastline to reach their wintering grounds. 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. Hovering in front of a flower to sip nectar it beats its wings more than 50 times per second. Feeders and flower gardens are great ways to attract these birds and some people turn their yards into buzzing clouds of hummingbirds each summer.

There are a few species in canada and the united states. Ruby throated hummingbird archilochus colubris eastern united states south and central canada. Ruby throated hummingbirds have reached their northernmost migration points.