Posted on 04/22/2020 2:43:55 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Many hummingbirds spend the winter in Central America or Mexico, and migrate north to their breeding grounds in the southern United States as early as February, and to areas further north later in the spring.
Hummingbirds fly by day when nectar sources such as flowers are more abundant. Flying low allows the birds to see, and stop at, food supplies along the way. They are also experts at using tail winds to help reach their destination faster and by consuming less energy and body fat. Research indicates a hummingbird can travel as much as 23 miles in one day.
During migration, a hummingbird's heart beats up to 1,260 times a minute, and its wings flap 15 to 80 times a second. To support this high energy level, a hummingbird will typically gain 25-40% of their body weight before they start migration in order to make the long trek over land, and water.
The first arrivals in spring are usually males. Some, however, do not migrate, in areas like California and the upper Pacific coast.
We are now monitoring the Spring 2020 hummingbird migration with the help of our viewers as they submit their first hummingbird sightings.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are moving northward quickly, with the front line of the migration appearing in Missouri, southern Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia. First sighting reports of Ruby-throats have just been received from New York and Maine. Seeing delays due to continued snow in some areas.
Black-chinned hummers are advancing through central and western Texas into Oklahoma and New Mexico, Utah and further west.
Rufous are being spotted through California and Washington up into southern British Columbia in places like Victoria and Whistler. And we have had reports from Juneau, Alaska ... It is our northernmost hummingbird sighting of 2020.
Broad-tailed hummingbirds are being sighted during their migration through New Mexico and into Colorado, as far north as Boulder, Golden, Loveland and Fort Collins.
Calliope sighting reports are being received in several areas, many in the greater Spokane area in eastern Washington, and up into Canada
Anna's stay year-round in locations along the West Coast, and we have recieved multiple reports of their current locations.
Allen's are being spotted in California, from San Diego in the south, northward up into the Oakland area.
The Current Migration Map
Shown below is our current map of hummingbird sightings in 2020 across the U.S. and Canada, as reported by our website viewers.
Here are some points to note about the posting of reports:
We do not publish names or e-mail addresses or exact physical address on our map, just a city and state, and sighting details.
Sightings posted to the map do not represent exact locations, addresses or coordinates; sightings are often placed on the map near center-city.
Due to the volume of sightings reported, our limited staff, and our inability to fit all sightings on our map, we are not able to post every report. When the number of sighting reports overwhelm the staff, priority is given to posting sightings along the leading edge of the migration.
In situations where multiple sightings are reported for a single location, only one sighting will be placed on the map.
Had a handful here in south FL for past 2 months - they all seemed to have moved on. Sad.
Here in central Missouri we got our first one on April 17.
My wife puts out 12 feeders and she goes through 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of nectar a day during the busy time. I figured it once and we will have 350-400 hummers here. The feeders are on our very large deck and right before sundown the deck has a constant humm. Very relaxing and extremely entertaining.
We have rescued hummers by removing string from them, picked up ones who literally ran out of gas and held them in our hands to the feeder until they got enough energy to fly off, and seen albino hummers.
My daughter has a humming bird feather collection.
At our place we have about a dozen of them at early morning and early evening hammering the three feeders we have. Cute.
Saw my first of the season yesterday in central Maryland. Made me smile!
“4K and 20 hummingbirds baked in a pie”
“So dose my cat”
Ha, thanks for that, needed a good laugh today.
Does, duh.
I have a collection of cats.....
I put 4 feeders out about a week ago. One on each side of my house. Still nothing here in central Indiana for me, but I see others have reported sightings nearby in the last few days. I can’t wait until they arrive! I usually see courting behavior in the early Summer.
Wow, that is impressive!!
Have seen some around my feeder for a week or two
here in N.Georgia.
It’s still a little early for them here in MA. It’s still pretty raw and there aren’t many blooms yet. That said: C’mon little ones, we’ve got the best juice and bee balm around! They are one of the most entertaining aspects of spring.
in the north east kingdom of Vermont may 15th is a good
bet ///but but its going down to 16f to-nite but like the chickadee these are some tough birds
We had our first one today in Roanoke, VA
Thanks for post we just returned to NC. Put out our feed 2 weeks ago.
Black chin mating pairs in 4-corners about 180 miles NW of Albuquerque for just over a week. 6300' up here so a little warmer.
Rufous are the first ones to pass by in north Idaho. They’ve been at out feeders for 3 days now. We’ll see them again in the fall as they head south from Alaska. In the mean time, we’ll have the locals all summer.
We’re going to hit 80 next week.
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