Hummingbird Migration in Oregon
Ten common questions regarding the migration of Oregon hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
When do hummingbirds arrive in Oregon?
The earliest arrivals of Oregon hummingbirds are seen in late February, with peak migration occurring in April.
Oregon 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.
Rufous hummingbirds are the second most commonly seen and are the first migrating hummingbirds to Oregon.
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: halsadofsky
Photo taken: Eugene, Oregon
Hummingbirds starting their spring migration from Panama need to fly about 3,400 miles to reach Oregon.
Hummingbirds starting their journey from Mexico need to fly about 2,200 miles to reach Oregon.
What are the most common hummingbirds seen in Oregon?
The Anna’s hummingbirds are by far the most common hummingbirds seen in Oregon, with the Rufous hummingbird being second.
These are Oregon’s statistics at the beginning of 2025 as reported by ebird.org
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Oregon, 7,727 will be Anna’s.
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Oregon, 1,989 will be Rufous.
Photo by: IntheWildwithRick
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Photo Taken: Grants Pass, Oregon
Are there Oregon hummingbirds that live in the state year-round?
Anna’s hummingbirds are the only species that live in Oregon year-round.
Some Rufous hummingbirds occasionally overwinter in Oregon, however most migrate south for the winter.
Other hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate can overwinter in Oregon.
All other hummingbird species found in Oregon are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.
The general public is unaware of how cold-tolerant hummingbirds actually are.
According to eBird.org, through branding practices 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
Photo Taken: Oregon
Which Oregon hummingbirds breed and nest in the state?
The 6 hummingbirds that breed and nest in Oregon in order of frequency seen:
Anna’s Breeding Map
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Photo Taken: Oregon
Rufous Breeding Map
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Photo Taken: Grants Pass, Oregon
Calliope Breeding Map
Photo by: sony_alpha_male
Black-chinned Breeding Map
Photo by: hummingbirdsbysurpise
Allen’s Breeding Map
Photo by: Aaron Gomperts
Broad-tailed Breeding Map
Photo by: hummingbirdsbysuprise
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, the 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 hummingbird 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.
In Oregon, nesting hummingbirds usually have 2 broods per year but some may have time to work in a third brood.
When should I put out hummingbird feeders in Oregon?
Oregon hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in mid-to-late February to attract the earliest migrating hummingbirds.
The peak spring migration period in Oregon is in April, therefore having your feeders ready early will help attract these tiny travelers.
Approximately one week after the arrival of the male hummingbirds, the females will follow.
Keep feeders up throughout the hummingbird season in Oregon between mid-to-late February 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.
Many Oregon hummingbird admirers leave their hummingbird feeders up all winter long to provide life-nourishing nectar to Oregon’s year-round resident, the Anna’s hummingbird, species that choose to overwinter or those unable to migrate due to injury or old age.
However, most of these hummingbirds will not spend the winter in Oregon and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
How long do hummingbirds stay in Oregon?
Anna’s hummingbirds live in Oregon year-round.
Oregon’s migrating hummingbirds stay in the state for at least seven months.
They will start arriving as early as mid-to-late February and most will be gone by September.
Some Rufous hummingbirds choose to overwinter in Oregon, however most migrate south for the winter.
Other migrating seasonal hummingbirds that can overwinter in Oregon are those too old or injured to migrate.
Hummingbird Seasons in Oregon
Top 4 Hummingbirds in order of frequently seen:
| Species: | Season Present: |
| Anna’s | Year-round |
| Rufous | Spring-Summer (Late Feb -September) Rare overwintering species |
| Calliope | Late Spring – Summer (April – Sept) |
| Black-chinned | Late Spring – Summer (April – Sept) |
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
Autumn sage – Salvia greggii
The most common Oregon hummingbirds seen during the hot summer months will be the Anna’s, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds.
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 July and most hummingbirds will be gone from Oregon by September.
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 Rufous hummingbirds occasionally overwinter in Oregon, but most migrate south for the winter.
Other migrating seasonal hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate are also birds that Oregon hummingbird enthusiasts will see during the winter.
Therefore, keeping feeders up during the winter is important.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
When do hummingbirds leave Oregon?
Anna’s hummingbirds live in Oregon year-round.
Migrating seasonal Oregon hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as July and by September they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
However, some Rufous hummingbirds choose to overwinter in the state.
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 September.
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 an Oregon hummingbird to migrate?
It takes an Oregon hummingbird about 73 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from Oregon to the most distant Mexican border 2,200 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 3,400 miles away, will need to fly 113 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 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.
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 to take down hummingbirds feeders in Oregon?
Late September or when no hummingbirds have been seen at the feeders for a couple of weeks.
Many Oregonians leave feeders up all winter to feed the year-round resident, the Anna’s hummingbird, some overwintering Rufous hummingbirds or those unable to migrate due to injury or old age.
Leaving feeders up does not stop migration; hummingbirds leave based on instinct and daylight changes, not food availability.
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 Oregon and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
Photo By: Bob Free Photography
Where do Oregon hummingbirds go in the winter?
Oregon’s only year-round resident, the Anna’s hummingbird, remain in Oregon over the winter.
Most of Oregon’s migrating hummingbirds travel south to over-winter in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
However, some species (Allen’s) over-winter in southern California.
See Oregon’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.
See my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food
Some hummingbirds have been documented returning to a feeder for a couple of years after it was removed.
See my article:
Hummingbirds Found in Oregon: (Pictures and Sounds)
Happy Hummingbird Watching!
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