Interactive map at the link, above.
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.
Interactive map at the link, above.
Black Chinned at our feeder for about a week or so. A bit east and south of Albuquerque at 7300’ elevation.
Takes a lot of them for a good meal ,LOL
Sierra Vista/Hereford is the place to see them.
Rockport, TX
Hummers fly every year through the city on their way to the US and always make Rockport their last stop before flying south.
And trying to batter those tiny drumsticks...forget it.
Thanks for the info. We love the hummers here in WV. Several come and stay the summer but have trouble sharing the food. We even have a feeder on each side of the house but they still fight.
The little $hits aren’t hitting my wife’s feeders yet.. Last year’s nesting spots are barren...
Thanks for the post. Ruby-Throated arrive like clockwork each year. May 1st for over a decade. I just put out a couple of feeders, however am limited now because of bear issues.
Back in the day the parents of someone I knew started “Birdwatcher’s Digest.” He & his siblings now run it.
Good people, good magazine. Thought you might want to check it out.
[Saw of the other day....don't see too many anymore. Wife still hangs out the hummingbird feeders.]
San Jose CA- A “charm” of hummingbirds in our neighborhood and backyard. A neighbor sent a picture of babies in a nest, but of course I know not how to post.
They made it here in East Central Oklahoma last Tuesday April 14 in the evening. I was prepared and fed them immediately.
I’ve worried about them since arrival. We had a freeze and it is a cold rainy day here today. They have eaten well this last week so maybe that helped them out. They have almost no reserves of course.
Yoo-hoo, over here!
Hummingbirds rock!
Interesting. We have the same issue. We count 2 here so far and it seen one keeps running the other away. I suspect the female nagging the male...but that’s just my suspicion. :^D
Diana, thanks for the heads up! I forgot to hang our feeder.
Here in Indiana, April 27 is the expected day for their arrival. We have one feeder out, but usually have 4 for the summer. We get the ruby throated variety. They will be here in 4 or 5 days.
Living in the low desert Coachella Valley of Southern California, we have some year-round residents, usually Annas, some snowbird residents which are mostly additional Annas and a few Costas, and in the Spring we have migrating ones coming back up from Mexico and just passing through, mostly Annas.
This year, the migration took place about three weeks ago and was less than normal. The Costas have already left, and the number of Annas remaining is far fewer than normal.
Usually, my two feeders, one in back and one in front, are emptied rather quickly in about 10 days. Yesterday, both feeders were still half full after more than two weeks. I took both down for a thorough cleaning and refilled them. So far in mid afternoon, only one Anna was seen feeding one time.
As to the waterfowl that spend the Winter in our golf course lakes, they were all gone two weeks ago except for two Canada geese who were born late in the season three years ago and have become year-round residents.
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