East Texas is home to many different species of hummingbirds that migrate south for the winter months when temperatures drop and food sources become scarce. The two most common hummingbird species found in East Texas are the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and the Rufous Hummingbird. These tiny birds make an incredible journey each year traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles to their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Understanding hummingbird migration patterns from East Texas can help people provide food sources and habitat for them along their route.
What causes hummingbirds to migrate?
Hummingbirds migrate for a few key reasons:
- Lack of food – Nectar from flowers and small insects become much more scarce as winter approaches in East Texas and the rest of North America. Hummingbirds need to consume a lot of calories every day due to their incredibly fast metabolism, so they migrate somewhere with abundant food sources.
- Changing temperatures – Hummingbirds have adapted to warmer tropical climates where they can more easily survive cold months. Nighttime freezing temperatures could be deadly during winter in East Texas.
- Lack of habitat – Plants that provide shelter and nesting sites die back or lose their leaves during East Texas winters. Hummingbirds have adapted to head south where suitable habitat is available year-round.
Migrating allows hummingbirds to survive until spring returns to East Texas and food, temperatures, and habitat improve for them to return and breed.
What is the typical migration route for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common and widespread hummingbird found in Eastern North America. Here is a overview of their migration:
- Breeding grounds – Spend spring and summer across Eastern U.S. and Canada, including all of East Texas
- Fall migration – Begin migrating south usually in August. Make crossing over Gulf of Mexico, a 500+ mile nonstop flight over water.
- Winter grounds – The majority overwinter in Southern Mexico and Central America. Some reach as far as Panama.
- Spring migration – Return trip north begins in February and March. Once again make Gulf crossing and arrive back on breeding grounds by May.
Banding and tracking studies of Ruby-throats show that the vast majority follow this migratory path that bridges between their breeding and wintering grounds. However, some individual variations exist including wintering in Florida or Caribbean islands.
What is the typical migration route for Rufous Hummingbirds?
The Rufous Hummingbird breeds farther north than Ruby-throats, primarily up the Pacific Northwest coast. Their migration route is a bit more complex:
- Breeding grounds – Spend spring and summer in Pacific Northwest in Northern California, Oregon, Washington and Southern Alaska
- Fall migration – Begin migrating south down the West Coast in July. Some cross the Gulf of California or skirt along Mexico’s coast.
- Winter grounds – The majority overwinter in Mexico. Some get as far south as Central America.
- Spring migration- Return north up inland routes starting in February. This brings some Rufous Hums through East Texas and other interior states.
Rufous migration includes coastal and inland routes as they fan out across the Western U.S. to return to breeding areas. Their appearance in Eastern states including Texas is more irregular than Ruby-throats.
When do hummingbirds migrate through East Texas?
The timing of hummingbird migration through East Texas generally follows this pattern:
- Spring – Earliest Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can arrive in March but more show up in April through May. Rufous Hummingbirds migrating inland may pass through in April and early May.
- Summer – Ruby-throats and some Rufous Hummingbirds nest and breed in the area.
- Fall – Ruby-throats begin migrating south in August. Rufous Hummingbirds also depart inland areas September through October.
- Winter – From November to February, very few hummingbirds remain in East Texas until return migration occurs.
Keep in mind that timing can vary by several weeks each year depending on weather patterns and other environmental factors. Broadly speaking, March through May and August through October are the peak migration times to spot visiting hummingbirds moving through East Texas.
How do hummingbirds know when to migrate?
Hummingbirds appear to rely on a combination of innate programming and environmental cues to determine when to migrate each year:
- Genetics – Migration patterns are driven in part by genetics and evolutionary adaptations. Young hummingbirds inherit tendencies on when to migrate from their parents.
- Changes in daylight – Hummingbirds sense changing daylight hours, prompting their migration urges.
- Food availability – Lack of flower nectar and insects motivates hummingbirds to seek out new food sources.
- Temperature drops – Chilly nights and frosts encourage hummingbirds to seek warmer regions.
- Internal clock – Scientists believe hummingbirds (and other migratory birds) possess an internal circannual clock tuned to the seasons.
Research indicates that a mix of endogenous programming and sensing external environmental factors help trigger annual migration for hummingbirds through East Texas and other parts of their range.
How far do hummingbirds migrate daily?
During migration, hummingbirds make frequent stops to rest and refuel. However, research using tiny tags shows their daily travel capacity is impressive for such tiny birds:
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Average 20 to 40 miles per day. Capable of up to 200 miles nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico.
- Rufous Hummingbird – Average 30 to 60 miles per day. Maximum daily flights of around 250 miles have been recorded.
Factors like weather, habitat, predator avoidance, and finding adequate food influence day to day migration distances. While hummingbirds are small, they are built to cover hundreds of miles in their annual migration loop thanks to their specialized flying abilities.
Do individual hummingbirds migrate to the same wintering grounds each year?
Studies of banded hummingbirds provide insight into their winter site fidelity:
- Ruby-throats – Most return to same Gulf coastal region annually, often within a few hundred miles.
- Rufous – Have shown more variability in winter sites year to year but may prefer same general region.
While they may not be precise, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds exhibit a degree of site fidelity to certain wintering areas in Mexico and Central America they’ve migrated to previously. Rufous Hummingbirds appear to have a bit more flexibility in their winter movements. More research is needed into how hummingbirds navigate and what cues help guide them to previous suitable wintering sites.
Do hummingbirds fly nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico?
Banding data confirms that most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds do indeed make a nonstop flight of 500 miles or more across the Gulf of Mexico in fall and spring. Here are some key facts about this incredible feat:
- Timing – Occurs late August to early September in fall migration and late March to mid-April in spring.
- Duration – Takes between 18-24 hours to cross 500+ miles nonstop over water.
- Fat stores – Double their body weight before crossing to store fat for energy.
- Conditions – Wait for favorable winds and weather to begin crossing.
This is one of the longest nonstop ocean crossings made by any migrant songbird in the world. Modern tracking confirms what was long suspected about hummingbirds’ amazing trans-Gulf migration.
What risks do hummingbirds face during migration?
Hummingbirds undertaking migration face many risks including:
- Extreme weather – Storms, high winds, rain making flying difficult.
- Lack of food – Finding adequate nectar and insects to refuel along the way.
- Predators – Hawks, cats, other birds looking to prey on these small migrants.
- Collisions – Windows, towers, vehicles, and other structures.
- Habitat loss – Lack of vegetation and tree cover needed to rest.
Estimates indicate 40-60% of adult hummingbirds die from one year to the next, with migration being the riskiest part of their annual cycle. However, those that survive the trek south and back have the advantages needed to continue breeding.
How can people help migrating hummingbirds?
There are some great ways for people to support migrating hummingbirds in East Texas:
- Provide nectar feeders – Keep feeders cleaned and continuously stocked through migration peak.
- Offer fresh water – Birdbaths, drippers and fountains for drinking and bathing.
- Grow native plants – Diverse native flowers, shrubs and trees provide food and habitat.
- Avoid pesticides – Reduce chemicals that can eliminate insect food sources.
- Limit collisions – Use decals to prevent window strikes. Keep outdoor lights off at night.
- Keep cats indoors – Cats are a top predator of visiting hummingbirds.
With a little effort, people can create a much safer journey for the incredible hummingbirds winging their way through East Texas in their annual migration. The easier local residents make it for the tiny travelers, the better their chances of survival.
Conclusion
East Texas provides important habitat for migrating hummingbirds each year as they pass between their breeding and wintering grounds. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds primarily nest in the area then migrate south to Mexico and Central America for winter. Rufous Hummingbirds also use the region as a migration corridor between the Pacific Northwest and their inland wintering areas. Understanding migration timing, routes, distances and risks that hummingbirds undertake makes it clear why they need support through habitat conservation and resources offered by residents along their path. With a little help, these tenacious tiny birds can continue their incredible continental journeys for generations to come.