Hummingbirds Are Migrating and Can Use Your Help—Here’s What to Do

Every fall, a tiny marvel takes off: Hummingbirds begin their long migration south. Despite weighing less than a few pennies, these energetic fliers make journeys that rival those of much larger birds. Hummingbirds are vital to the environment, carrying pollen from flower to flower as they feed on nectar. In fact, many native plants depend almost exclusively on hummingbirds for reproduction. By supporting them, we help maintain healthy ecosystems that benefit countless other species, including humans.

Some will travel thousands of miles from Canada and the northern U.S. to Mexico and Central America, relying on every ounce of fuel they can find along the way. So if you want to play a part in this tremendous journey, it’s time to break out your bird feeder.

The Long Haul

According to Hummingbird Central, most hummingbirds spend winter in Central America or Mexico before returning north in spring. Migration is triggered by changes in daylight and the availability of flowers and insects. Once underway, the pace is staggering: “During migration, a hummingbird’s heart beats up to 1,260 times a minute, and its wings flap 15 to 80 times a second,” the site reads. Some species may cover 23 miles in a day, while others push through 500 miles at once, often over open water with no food or shelter.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, the only species that breeds east of the Mississippi, can fly more than 1,000 miles without stopping. “The most interesting thing, in my opinion, is how some of these birds effectively double their body mass during migration and are still able to perform migratory flights,” said Theodore Zenzal, Jr., a biologist who studied their fall movements through Alabama.

Myths and Marvels

The idea of such small birds making epic migrations has long fascinated people. “It’s so hard to imagine how a bird that weighs as little as a few pennies can withstand a cross-country migration that people have invented myths to explain it,” Anna Gibbs wrote for Audubon magazine. Early cultures once believed hummingbirds dried up on branches for winter or that they hitched rides on Canada Geese. The truth is even more remarkable: These little creatures navigate their routes alone, often retracing the same paths year after year.

“Banded hummers have been spotted in the same yards year after year,” Gibbs said, proof of their astonishing fidelity to specific stopovers.

How You Can Help

Hummingbirds need abundant food to fuel their long journeys, and backyard feeders can make a real difference. “It’s awfully hard for the average person to do anything to help a Bald Eagle or Peregrine Falcon,” ornithologist Sheri Williamson told Audubon magazine. “But you can make a difference in the lives of hummingbirds.”

Many people worry that leaving feeders out too long will prevent hummingbirds from migrating, but experts agree this is a myth. Feeders provide critical fuel, especially for stragglers or individuals who wander outside their usual range.

The best feeders are those that are easy to clean. Backyard Hummingbird, a bird guide site, recommends gravity-fed feeders with shallow reservoirs, such as the First Nature feeder. These are inexpensive, easy to fill, and designed with a red coloring that naturally attracts hummingbirds. Just be sure to clean feeders every two to four days with hot water to prevent mold, which can be harmful to birds.

When mixing nectar, skip the store-bought formulas and dyes. Plain sugar water (one part sugar to four parts water) is safest. Planting native flowering plants is another way to provide natural nectar sources, especially in spring and summer.

Watching the Migration

For bird lovers, tracking the migration is part of the fun. Sites like Hummingbird Central provide interactive maps where people can log sightings and watch as hummingbirds move across the continent. Migration typically peaks in September, but stragglers may still pass through in October depending on the region.