Last revised on: March 28, 2025
Who doesn’t enjoy a hummingbird? These little creatures defy the odds as they migrate from Mexico to Canada, while entertaining bird watchers along the way.
Factoids about the migration, courtesy of HummingbirdCentral.com
- 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.
- They fly alone, often on the same path they have flown earlier in their life, and fly low, just above tree tops or water. Young hummingbirds must navigate without parental guidance.
- 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. However, during migration as they cross the Gulf of Mexico they may cover up to 500 miles at a time. Their average speed in direct flight is in the range of 20-30mph, and up to three times that fast during courtship dives.
Source: HummingbirdCentral.com
Additional birding resources:
MnDNR Guide for Feeding Hummingbirds
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Cornell Bird Cams
Cornell Merlin Sound ID and Photo ID
