Hummingbird Migration in Missouri
Ten common questions about the migration of Missouri hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
There are 8 hummingbirds documented as hummingbirds seen in Missouri.
When do hummingbirds arrive in Missouri?
Missouri’s earliest migrating hummingbirds begin arriving in mid-to-late March and continue north to their preferred nesting area, somewhere near their own birth.
Missouri hummingbirds begin their spring migration north from as far away as Panama or as close as Mexico.
The height of spring migration activity in Missouri occurs in the months of April and May according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).
Missouri migrating hummingbirds, including the most common Missouri hummingbird, the Ruby-throated hummingbird, continue their way north into Canada; eastward into all states to the Atlantic Ocean.
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.
Watch for the male’s vividly colored gorget; a week or so later, the females will begin to appear at your feeders.
Read my article:
How to Identify a Hummingbird’s Gender in 4 Easy Steps
Photo by: Paula Leftwich
Hummingbirds starting their spring migration from Panama need to fly about 2,150 miles to reach Missouri.
Hummingbirds starting their journey from Mexico need to fly about 1,075 miles to reach Missouri.
What are the most common hummingbirds seen in Missouri?
The Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most common hummingbirds seen in Missouri, with the Rufous hummingbird being a distant second.
These are Missouri’s statistics at the end of 2023 as reported by ebird.org
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Missouri, 9,900 will be Ruby-throated.
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Missouri, 100 will be Rufous.
Photo by: Paula Leftwich
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Are there Missouri hummingbirds that live in the state year-round?
There are no hummingbird species that live in Missouri year-round.
However, although rare, some Rufous hummingbirds are seen in the middle of winter.
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
A Rare overwintering hummingbird in Missouri include:
Rufous hummingbird.
Photo by: Bob Free
What hummingbirds breed and nest in Missouri?
The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds and nests in Missouri.
Most Ruby-throated hummingbirds will raise two broods in Missouri but some of the early arriving or late leaving Ruby-throated hummingbirds will have enough time to raise a third brood in the same year.
The breeding season for the Ruby-throated hummingbird in Missouri is from late April through July.
Breeding map for hummingbird that breed and nest in Missouri, reported by ebird.org
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 Missouri.
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 out hummingbird feeders in Missouri?
Missouri hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in mid-March to attract the earliest migrating hummingbirds.
The peak spring migration period occurs in April and May, therefore having your feeders ready early will help attract these tiny travelers.
Many leave their hummingbird feeders up all year for the cold-tolerant hummingbirds that may over-winter in Missouri, or for the old or injured and unable to migrate.
Approximately one week after the arrival of the male hummingbirds, the females will follow.
Keep feeders up throughout the hummingbird season in Missouri between mid-March through early October.
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 hummingbirds stay in Missouri?
Missouri hummingbirds stay in the state for at least seven months.
They will start arriving as early as mid-March and most will be gone by early October.
Some Rufous hummingbirds can overwinter in Missouri, although rare, but most migrate south for the winter.
No hummingbird species live in Missouri year-round.
Hummingbird Seasons in Missouri
| Season: | Activity: |
| Mid-to-late March | First arriving (Ruby-throated) |
| April – August | Peak season for feeding, nesting, and breeding |
| Mid–August – Early 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
Scarlet Bee Balm – (Monarda didyma)
Photo by: Andy Raupp
The most common hummingbirds Missourians will see during the hot summer months will be the Ruby-throated hummingbird with the Rufous hummingbird being a distant second.
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 mid-August and most hummingbirds will be gone from Missouri by early 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.
Some extremely cold-tolerant hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate and the Rufous hummingbird (although rare), are the most probable hummingbirds to decide to spend the winter in Missouri.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
When do hummingbirds leave Missouri?
Missouri hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as mid-August and by early October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Missouri year-round.
Southern fall hummingbird migration in Missouri begins in mid-August with most leaving by early October, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).
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 first week 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.
How long does it take a Missouri hummingbird to migrate?
It takes a Missouri hummingbird about 36 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from Missouri to the most distant Mexican border 1,075 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama, 2,150 miles away, will need to fly 72 hours.
Some fly at the 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
When should I take down my hummingbird feeders in Missouri?
Mid-October or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove Missouri hummingbird feeders for the winter.
Feeders are left up all winter by some Missourians to feed the uncommon winter hummingbird, the Rufous hummingbird and those that are too old or injured to migrate.
Hummingbirds are much more tolerant of cold temperatures than most people realize.
They depend on these wintertime feeders and may can die if hummingbird feeders are taken down in the middle of winter during periods of below-freezing temperatures.
According to eBird.org, some banded hummingbirds have been documented in temperatures of -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
See my article:
Should I Keep My Hummingbird Feeder Out During the Winter?
Most migrating hummingbirds will not spend the winter in Missouri and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
Where do Missouri hummingbirds go in the winter?
Missouri’s Ruby-throated, most Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Broad-tailed, and Broad-billed migrating 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.
Allen’s over-winter in lower Mexico and southern California.
See Missouri’s wintering hummingbirds map as reported by ebird.org
In order of frequently seen.
All hummingbirds have excellent memories and can remember every flower or feeder they visited during spring migration and will return to those locations along their migration pathway year after year.
Some hummingbirds have been documented returning to a feeder for a couple of years after it was removed.
See my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food
See my article:
Hummingbirds Found in Missouri: (Pictures and Sounds)
Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions
Happy Hummingbird Watching!
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