Arkansas Hummingbirds Migration: 11 Majestic Aviators
Eleven common questions about the migration of Arkansas hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
There are 11 documented migrating hummingbirds in Arkansas.
When do Arkansas hummingbirds arrive?
The earliest arriving Arkansas hummingbirds are seen in mid-to-late March, with peak spring migration occurring in April and May.
Arkansas hummingbirds begin their spring migration north from as far away as Panama or as close as Mexico.
The first migrating hummingbirds will be males, followed by females about a week later. The males arrive first to stake out the territory that they will defend as they try to attract a female.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most commonly seen and will be the first migrating hummingbirds to be seen in Arkansas.
Rufous hummingbirds are the second most commonly seen hummingbird in Arkansas.
Watch for the male’s vividly colored gorget; a week or so later, the females will begin to appear at your feeders.
See my article:
How to Identify a Hummingbird’s Gender in 4 Easy Steps
Photo by: mz13hummingbirds
Arkansas hummingbirds starting their spring migration north from Panama City, Panama need to fly about 3,357 miles to reach Little Rock, Arkansas if they fly over land the entire way. Those choosing to fly over the Gulf of Mexico will need to fly 1,949 miles.
Arkansas hummingbirds starting their journey north from Mexico, at the United States’ southernmost border at Brownsville Texas, need to fly 684 miles to reach Little Rock, Arkansas.
Are there Arkansas hummingbirds that live in the state year-round?
There are no hummingbird species that live in Arkansas year-round.
While most hummingbirds migrate south for the winter, the Rufous hummingbird is documented as seen in the middle of winter in Arkansas.
A top Google website sights Black-chinned and Anna’s hummingbirds as seen overwintering in Arkansas.
The general public is unaware of how cold-tolerant hummingbirds actually are.
According to eBird.org, through branding practices in Wisconsin, the Rufous and Ruby-throated hummingbirds are documented to survive in temperatures of -9F and wind chills of -36F.
See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Which Arkansas hummingbirds breed and nest in the state?
The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds and nests in Arkansas.
Ruby-throated – The Ruby-throated hummingbird has an extensive breeding area that covers the entire eastern half of the United States and extends into Canada as far west as Alberta.
Photo by: Paula Leftwich
The entire reason for northern migration, much like salmon swimming upstream to their place of birth to lay eggs, is to return to the area where they were born to mate, build a nest, and raise a family.
Once the breeding grounds have been reached, focus turns to finding a partner with which to mate.
Each species of male hummingbirds has its own unique mating dance ritual of courtship to attract a female. They do perfectly choreographed dives and dance maneuvers to attract a flirty female.
See my article:
Hummingbird Dance: 5 Interpretive Explanations
There is no penetration during the mating ritual as male hummingbirds do not have any external sexual organs.
The mating process only lasts for approximately 3-5 seconds while the cloacae (kloh-ay-see) of both hummingbirds are pressed together in what is called the “Cloacal Kiss” (kloh-a-coal kiss).
After the Cloacal kiss, the female must begin building the nest immediately.
Female hummingbirds prefer building nests 10 to 20 feet off the ground in deciduous trees.
It will take her between 5 and 7 days to construct the nest of materials such as plant down, moss, and fine plant fibers, decorated with lichens and held together by spider webs.
See my article:
Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting)
See my article:
Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling)
Hummingbirds usually lay 2 eggs per brood, one each on consecutive days.
On average, the Ruby-throated hummingbird will raise two families per year in Arkansas.
However, there are occasions where they are able to work in an additional family for a total of three families per year.
When Should I Put Up My Feeders for Arkansas Hummingbirds?
Arkansas hummingbird enthusiasts should put up hummingbird feeders in mid-to-late March to attract the very earliest arriving migrating hummingbirds.
The majority of Arkansas spring migrating hummingbirds will arrive in April and May.
Approximately one week after the arrival of the male hummingbirds, the females will follow.
Keep feeders up throughout the hummingbird season between April through September.
Make sure to use high-quality nectar solutions in your hummingbird feeders; homemade nectar works best.
See my article:
Forget Commercial Hummingbird Food, Try Making Homemade Nectar
See my article:
The One Thing You Need to Eliminate From a Hummingbird’s Diet
Clean feeders regularly (every 2-3 days in hot weather) to prevent mold and bacteria.
Place feeders in partially shaded areas to keep nectar fresh longer.
Photo by: Paula Leftwich
How long do Arkansas hummingbirds stay in the state?
Arkansas hummingbirds stay in the state for at least seven months.
They will start arriving as early as mid-to-late March and most will be gone in October.
Some Rufous are seen in Arkansas during the winter, but most migrate south for the winter.
No hummingbird species live in Arkansas year-round.
Hummingbird Seasons in Arkansas
| Season: | Activity: |
| Mid to late March | First arriving (Ruby-throated) |
| April – September | Peak season for feeding and nesting |
| Late August – Mid to late October | Fall migration |
| Late October – Beyond | Rare overwintering species (Rufous) |
Hummingbirds have exceptional memories and will remember every flower or feeder they visited on the spring migration and will return to those nectar sources on their return southern migration in the fall.
See my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food
Zinnia Plant
Photo by: Mz13hummingbirds
According to Hot Springs Village Audubon, HSV Audubon the most common migrating Arkansas hummingbird seen during the hot summer months will be the Ruby-throated hummingbird.
When the obstacles of summer heat are difficult to manage and unbearable, finding ways to keep your hummingbirds happy and hydrated with cool nectar is crucial.
See my article:
How to Help Hummingbirds in Hot Weather
Fall migration begins in late August and most hummingbirds will be gone from Arkansas by mid-to-late October.
The general public is unaware of how tolerant hummingbirds actually are.
Some banded hummingbirds have been observed at temperatures as low as -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit, according to eBird.org.
The extremely cold-tolerant Rufous hummingbird is the most probable migratory hummingbird to decide to sometimes spend the winter in Arkansas.
Arkansas hummingbird enthusiast will keep feeders up during the winter in rare times for those hummingbirds too old or injured to migrate.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
When do Arkansas hummingbirds leave the state?
During fall migration, Arkansas hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as August and by mid-to-late October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Arkansas year-round.
A few older hummingbirds will be the first to start the fall migration depending on their strength and energy, with the youngest hummingbirds finishing the fall migration by the end of October.
Hummingbird migration is triggered by the circadian (internal daily clock) and the circannual (yearly internal clock) rhythm.
Changes in the weather, temperature, time of season, decline in food supply and shorter days with less sunlight are factors that influence the beginning of fall migration.
Similar to spring migration, male hummingbirds are the first to leave and head south for the winter during fall migration.
As soon as the female hummingbirds have finished raising their young and can travel independently, they will set out on their southern fall migration.
When should I take down my feeders for Arkansas hummingbirds?
Mid-to-late October, or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove Arkansas hummingbird feeders for the winter.
Feeders are left up all winter by some Arkansans to feed the uncommon winter hummingbirds and those that are too old or injured to migrate.
Hummingbirds that depend on these wintertime feeders may die if hummingbird feeders are taken down in the middle of winter during periods of below-freezing temperatures.
See my article: 11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
The dilemma hummingbird enthusiasts struggle with every year is whether to leave the hummingbird feeders up all year or take them down during the winter.
See my article:
Should I Keep My Hummingbird Feeder Out During the Winter?
How long does it take an Arkansas hummingbird to migrate?
An Arkansas hummingbird requires 23 hours of flying at its average flight speed of 30mph to fly from Little Rock, Arkansas, to the most distant USA/Mexican border, 684 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama, 1,949 miles across the Gulf of Mexico or 3,357 over land, will need to fly 65 or 112 hours, respectively.
Some fly at a relaxed distance as slow as 1 hour per day, others fly up to 500 miles non-stop in about 20 hours as some do while migrating across the Gulf of Mexico.
Hummingbirds do not migrate in flocks as do other migrating birds.
Hummingbirds migrate individually on their own personal time clock.
This staggered migration pattern ensures resources are not consumed and depleted all at one time.
As migration approaches, hummingbirds routinely gain 25% to 50% of their body weight by consuming increased quantities of nectar from feeders and flowering plants as well as catching an increased quantity of bugs mid-air for protein.
This increase in body fat helps fuel the hummingbird on its long migration journey.
Photo by: Bob Free
The hummingbirds that visited your feeders during the spring migration will remember exactly where your feeder is located and will most likely revisit that same feeder on their way to their over-wintering area in Mexico and Central America.
Maintaining feeders is critical in order to maximize food consumption that nourishes and prepares their bodies for migration.
See my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food
Where do Arkansas hummingbirds go in the winter?
Arkansas migrating Ruby-throated, some Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Broad-billed, Buff-bellied, Broad-tailed, Mexican Violetear, Allen’s, and Rivoli’s hummingbirds travel south to over-winter in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Anna’s over-winter in upper Mexico and California.
Ruby-throated: The Ruby-throated hummingbird primarily overwinters in southern Mexico and Central America with scattered areas in the USA in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Rufous – The Rufous hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico.
Some are seen in the winter months in scattered areas throughout the USA including New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Black-chinned – The Black-chinned hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico.
These hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and as far north as Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Calliope – The Calliope hummingbird overwinters primarily on the west coast of Mexico. Calliope hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Broad-billed – The Broad-billed hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico.
These hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA including Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Florida, and Utah.
Buff-bellied – The Buff-bellied hummingbirds are not really migratory and live year-round in Southern Texas and the Gulf Coast of Mexico.
Anna’s – The Anna’s hummingbird overwinters primarily in Southern California and the upper parts of Baja and Mexico.
These hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA including Texas, Missouri, Illinois (Chicago area), Maryland, Utah, and Idaho.
Broad-tailed – The Broad-tailed hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico and Guatemala. Broad-tailed hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas in Western Texas.
Mexican Violetear – The Mexican Violetear hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
These hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA including Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana.
Allen’s – The Allen’s hummingbird overwinters primarily in Southern California.
These hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA including Texas, Tennessee, and as far north as Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin.
Rivoli’s – The Rivoli’s hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Some Ravioli’s hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas of Southern Arizona and Western Texas.
To see all the hummingbirds seen in Arkansas
Read my article:
Arkansas Hummingbirds: 11 Awesome Documented Species
Happy Hummingbird Watching!
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