Hummingbird Migration in Texas

Ten common questions about the migration of Texas hummingbirds are discussed in this article.

When do hummingbirds arrive in Texas?

The earliest arrivals of Texas hummingbirds are seen in end of February, with peak migration occurring in April and May.
Texas 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 Black-chinned hummingbirds will be the first migrating (late February) to arrive in Texas.

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

Hummingbirds starting their spring migration from Panama need to fly about 1,962 miles to reach Dallas – Fort Worth if they fly across the Gulf of America, and 3,030 miles if they fly only over land mass.

Hummingbirds starting their journey from mid-Mexico need to fly about 951 miles to reach Dallas- Fort Worth Texas.

What are the most common hummingbirds seen in Texas?

The Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most common hummingbirds seen in Texas, with the Black-chinned hummingbird being a close second.

These are Texas’s statistics at the beginning of 2025 as reported by ebird.org

• On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Texas, 4113 will be Ruby-throated.
• On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Texas, 3,409 will be Black-chinned.

Are there Texas hummingbirds that live in the state year-round?

The Buff-bellied hummingbird is the only species that live in Texas year-round.
All hummingbird species found in Texas are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.

Some Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Anna’s, Allen’s, Broad-billed, and Rivoli’s hummingbirds occasionally are seen in the middle of winter.

Other hummingbirds that are seen in the middle of winter are those that are too old or injured to migrate.

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

What hummingbirds breed and nest in Texas?

The Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Broad-tailed, Lucifer, Blue-throated Mt-gem, Broad-billed, Rivoli’s, Mexican Violetear, and the White-eared hummingbirds are the 10 species that breeds and nests in Texas, in order of frequently seen.

Breeding map for hummingbirds that breed and nest in Texas, reported by ebird.org

• Ruby-throated
• Black-chinned
• Buff-bellied
• Broad-tailed
• Lucifer
• Broad-billed
• Rivoli’s
• Mexican Violetear
• White-eared

The Texas Breeding Bird Atlas reported by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, states the Blue-throated Mt-gem hummingbird breeds from mid-April through September in Texas.

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 hummingbirds will raise two families per year in Texas.
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 my hummingbird feeders in Texas?

Texas hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders at the end of February to attract the earliest migrating hummingbirds.
The peak spring migration period starts in April and May, 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 Texas between late February through 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.

Many Texas hummingbird admirers leave their hummingbird feeders up all winter long to provide life-nourishing nectar to the year-round Buff-bellied hummingbird, overwintering species, and those unable to migrate due to injury or old age.

However, most of these hummingbirds will not spend the winter in Texas and will decide to migrate south for the winter.

How long do hummingbirds stay in Texas?

Texas hummingbirds stay in the state for at least eight months.
They will start arriving as early as late-February and most will be gone by October.
The Buff-bellied hummingbird is the only species that live in Texas year-round.

Hummingbird Seasons in Texas

Season:	Activity:
Late February	First arriving (Black-chinned)
March – September	Peak season for feeding and nesting
August – October	Fall migration
November – Beyond	Rare overwintering (8 species)

Some Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Anna’s, Allen’s, Broad-billed, and Rivoli’s hummingbirds are the 8 species that occasionally overwinter in Texas.

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 hummingbird Texans will see during the hot summer months will be the Black-chinned hummingbird, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife.

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 August and most hummingbirds will be gone from Texas by 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.

Texas hummingbird enthusiasts will keep feeders up during the winter for the year-round Buff-bellied hummingbird, overwintering species, and those unable to migrate due to injury or old age.

See my article: 
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing

When do hummingbirds leave Texas?

Texas hummingbirds begin leaving the state in August and by October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.

Some Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Anna’s, Allen’s, Broad-billed, and Rivoli’s hummingbirds are the 8 species that occasionally overwinter in Texas.
The Buff-bellied hummingbird is the only species that live in Texas 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 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 Texas hummingbird to migrate?

It takes a Texas hummingbird about 32 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from the middle of Texas to the middle of Mexico 951 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 3,030 miles away over land or 1,962 miles across the Gulf, will need to fly 65 or 101 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

When should I take down my hummingbird feeders in Texas?

During the late fall or after weeks without sightings is ideal for taking down feeders in Texas.
Most Texan admirers leave feeders up all winter for the year-round resident (Buff-bellied), to support the 8 species of hummingbirds that occasionally overwinter in Texas, and those too old or injured to migrate.

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 Texas and will decide to migrate south for the winter.

Where do Texas hummingbirds go in the winter?

Texas’s 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, California, and occasionally in Texas.
Allen’s over-winter in lower Mexico, southern California, and occasionally in Texas.
Buff-bellied is a year-round resident to Texas.

See Texas’s wintering hummingbirds map as reported by ebird.org
In order of frequently seen.

• Ruby-throated
• Black-chinned
• Buff-bellied
• Rufous
• Broad-tailed
• Anna’s
• Lucifer
• Calliope
• Allen’s
• Blue-throated Mt-gem
• Broad-billed
• Rivoli’s
• Mexican Violetear
• Green-breasted Mango
• Costa’s
• White-eared
• Violet-crowned
• Berylline

Amethyst-throated Mt-gem overwintering map from Cornell Lab.

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:
Hummingbirds Found in  Texas: (Pictures and Sounds)

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions