Delaware Hummingbirds Migration: 6 Remarkable Jewels

Nine common questions about the migration of Delaware hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
There are 6 hummingbirds documented as Delaware hummingbirds.

When Do Delaware Hummingbirds Arrive?

The earliest arriving Delaware hummingbirds are seen in the beginning of April, with the majority arriving in mid-April.
Delaware 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 the 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 the the first migrating hummingbirds and the most commonly seen Delaware hummingbird.

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

Delaware hummingbirds migrating north from Panama City, Panama need to fly 4,351 miles overland to reach Dover or fly across the Gulf of America, 2,092 miles.

Delaware hummingbirds starting their journey north from Mexico, at the United States’ southernmost border at Brownsville Texas, need to fly 1,568 miles to reach Dover.

Are There Delaware Hummingbirds That Live in the State Year-round?

There are no year-round hummingbird species that live in Delaware.
Some Rufous hummingbirds occasionally are seen in the middle of winter, even though it is rare.
Most hummingbirds migrate south to their wintering grounds during fall migration.

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

Hummingbirds that can overwinter (although rare) in Delaware include:
Rufous hummingbirds.

Which Delaware Hummingbirds Breed and Nest in the State?

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds and nests in Delaware.

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.

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 Delaware.
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 Delaware Hummingbirds?

Delaware hummingbird enthusiasts should put up hummingbird feeders at by early April to attract arriving migrating hummingbirds.

Approximately one week after the arrival of the male hummingbirds, the females will follow.

Keep feeders up throughout the hummingbird season between May 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.

How Long Do Delaware Hummingbirds Stay in the State?

Delaware hummingbirds stay in the state for at least six months.
They will start arriving in the beginning of April and most will be gone in mid- October.
No hummingbird species live in Delaware year-round.

Hummingbird Seasons in Delaware

Season:	Activity:
Early April	First arriving (Ruby-throated)
May – September	Peak season for feeding and nesting
September – Mid 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

The most common Delaware 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 September and most hummingbirds will be gone from Delaware by mid-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 (yet rare) migratory hummingbird to decide to sometimes spend the winter in Delaware.

Delaware 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 Delaware Hummingbirds Leave The State?

Delaware hummingbirds begin leaving the state in September, and by mid-October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Delaware 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 from behind.

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 Delaware Hummingbirds?

Mid to late October or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove Delaware hummingbird feeders for the winter.
Feeders are left up all winter by some Delawareans to feed the uncommon hummingbirds 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 a Delaware Hummingbird to Migrate?

It takes a Delaware hummingbird 52 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from Dover to the most distant Mexican border 1,568 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 2,092 miles across the Gulf of America or 4,351 over land, will need to fly 70 hours or 145 hours respectively.

Some fly at a relaxed distance as slow as 1 hour per day, and others fly up to 500 miles non-stop in about 20 hours as some do while migrating across the Gulf of America.

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.

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 Delaware Hummingbirds Go in the Winter?

Delaware Ruby-throated, some Rufous, Allen’s, Calliope, Black-chinned, and Broad-tailed hummingbirds travel south to over-winter in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Ruby-throated – The Ruby-throated hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are seen in some years, during the winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA including New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Rufous – The Rufous hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico.
These hummingbirds are seen in some years, during 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.

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.

Calliope – The Calliope hummingbird overwinters primarily on the west coast of Mexico.
These hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

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.

Broad-tailed – The Broad-tailed hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico and Guatemala. These hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas in Western Texas.

To see all the hummingbirds seen in Delaware
Read my article:
Delaware Hummingbirds: 6 Awesome Documented Species

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions