Where Do Hummingbirds Go For The Winter?

If dogs are a man’s best friend, then hummingbirds are a man’s

best backyard companion

. These delightful, colorful, little birds are not just entertaining but also are great pollinators throughout the late spring and summer. But when winter rolls around, where do these splendid creatures journey? Do they migrate?

These dainty birds have a long road (ahem, flight path) ahead of them when the temperatures begin to drop and winter approaches. Every winter, most

North American hummingbirds

embark on a strenuous journey south. They may be tiny, but their trip is anything but small.

Why Do Hummingbirds Migrate?

Like many species of birds, most

hummingbirds migrate

, which means they spend winters in a different area than where they breed. Often, this is because food is usually more abundant elsewhere—winter and cold weather generally means less availability of hummingbird’s diet. However, some birds migrate south for milder temperatures, too.

Where Do Migrating Hummingbirds Go?

According to the American Bird Conservancy, most North American hummingbirds breed in areas from Canada to the Gulf Coast and migrate to Mexico and Central America.

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The journey is about 3,000 miles and can take one to two weeks for the birds to reach their winter destination.

However, the

common ruby-throated hummingbird

, which is generally the only hummingbird species found in the South, journeys nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico, traveling the 500-mile trip in one day—usually at night.

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Do Some Birds Stay In The South?

This journey explains why you often don’t see hummingbirds in your neck of the woods post-fall, but it’s not entirely out of the question to spot some hummingbirds in the Southern U.S. in the winter. Some birds in milder climates on the West Coast and in the Southeast stay put and choose not to migrate farther South. If you live in southern Florida, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, or the Carolinas, you may spot hummingbirds all winter long.

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Hummingbirds That Don’t Migrate

While some hummingbird species traditionally migrate but opt to overwinter in the South, some other species don’t migrate at all. According to the American Bird Conservancy, Anna’s Hummingbird is the main exception to a hummingbird’s migration tendencies.

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The movement pattern of Anna’s Hummingbirds is mainly dependent on food supplies. But, with the addition of exotic flowering trees along the West Coast of California, this hummingbird’s popularity increased.

When Should You Put Your Hummingbird Feeder Away?

Even though you may stop getting visits to your

hummingbird feeder

in late summer, you should leave the feeder out for about two weeks after seeing your last hummingbird. Birds migrating from farther north may still be looking for food while on their journey.

However, you may want to keep the feeder out even longer for those birds—especially those who have already traveled a long way from Canada—who opt to stay in the Lower South all winter. Keep your feeders clean and filled in those areas.

When Should You Put Your Feeder Back Out?

If you do opt to take down your hummingbird feeder for the winter, you should plan to put it back up

by late February

if you live along the Gulf Coast. If you live further inland, you can put it out in late March and early April to feed the majority of the migrating hummingbirds. Birds who stopped in your yard along the way also may return each year during migration, as they tend to stop at the same spots.

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Fly on, friends. Our gardens are here for you if you need a pit stop.