Ruby Throated Hummingbird Migration Path

Over land or water.

Ruby throated hummingbird migration path.

Ruby throated hummingbird migration route. Hummingbird migration routes vary from species to species. Each year ruby throated hummingbirds along with a few other hummingbird species take part in a long journey known as migration. For most people ruby throated hummingbirds are going to be what many people considered to be just a generic hummingbird.

The front line of the migration has moved into alberta manitoba saskatchewan ontario quebec new brunswick prince edward island and nova scotia. Ruby throated hummingbirds across pennsylvania and regions north of pennsylvania. Most rubythroats fly nonstop 500 miles or more across the water to mexico and other central american countries. It s time to get those feeders out.

Ruby throated hummingbirds have reached their northernmost migration points. The 2020 migration is over for most species and we have ended our mapping project for the year. Some rubythroats fly over land following the coastline to reach their wintering grounds. By the start of september ruby throated hummingbird migration is well underway and we ve been seeing them regularly at the gulf coast bird observatory.

The short answer probably is migration. 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. The map below shows the approximate spring migration arrival dates for ruby throated hummingbirds in north america. Ruby throated hummingbird spring migration.

Hummingbird migration although field observations reveal the obvious about ruby throated hummingbird archilochus colubris they occur in north america in summer and in mexico or central america in winter science is lacking in specific details about what routes they follow to get from one place to the other. They are the most common in the united states especially in the eastern half. During migration some birds embark on a nonstop 900 mile journey across the gulf of mexico and caribbean from panama or mexico to the eastern united states. First arrivals in the spring usually males are back in texas and louisiana in late february to mid march.

The most famous migration is the ruby throated because this remarkable bird travels from central america and mexico crosses the gulf of mexico none stop and continues as far north as eastern canada. These hummingbirds have a very strict routine often returning to the same area each and every year. What happens when migrating ruby throated hummingbirds reach the gulf of mexico.