Iowa Hummingbirds Migration: 5 Documented Amazing Aviators

Nine common questions about the migration of Iowa hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
There are five hummingbirds documented in Iowa.

When Do Iowa Hummingbirds Arrive?

The earliest arriving Iowa hummingbirds are seen in mid to late April, with peak migration occurring in May.
Iowa 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 by far the most commonly seen Iowa hummingbirds and they will be the first migrating hummingbirds to be seen in Iowa.

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

Iowa hummingbirds starting their spring migration north from Panama City, Panama need to fly about 3,774 miles over land or 2,404 miles over the Gulf of Mexico to reach Des Moines, respectively.

Iowa hummingbirds starting their journey north from Mexico at the United States’ southernmost border at Brownsville, Texas, need to fly 1,103 miles to reach Des Moines.

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

There are no hummingbird species that live in Iowa year-round.
However, some hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate can overwinter in Iowa.

The general public is unaware of how cold-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.

Which Iowa hummingbirds breed and nest in the state?

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

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 Iowa.
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 Iowa Hummingbirds?

Iowa hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in mid-April to attract the very earliest arriving migrating hummingbirds.
The peak migration period occurs in 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 between April 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.

How Long Do Iowa Hummingbirds Stay in the State?

Iowa hummingbirds stay in the state for six months.
They will start arriving as early as mid to late April and most will be gone by October.
No hummingbird species live in Iowa year-round.

Hummingbird Seasons in Iowa

Season:	Activity:
Mid-to-late April	First arriving (Ruby-throated)
May – July	Peak season for feeding and nesting
Late July to early August	Raising young and hatchlings fledge the nest
August – early to mid-October	Fall migration

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 Iowa hummingbird seen during the hot summer months is 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 Iowa 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.

Iowa 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 Iowa Hummingbirds Leave the State?

During fall migration, Iowa hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as August, and by late October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Iowa year-round.

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 Iowa Hummingbirds?

Early to mid-October, or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove Iowa hummingbird feeders for the winter.

Feeders are left up all winter by some Iowans to feed the uncommon hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate.
No hummingbirds live in Iowa year-round.

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: 
1 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 Iowa Hummingbird to Migrate?

Iowa hummingbirds require 37 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from Des Moines Iowa to the most distant USA/Mexican border 1,103 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 2,404 miles across the Gulf of Mexico, or 3,774 over land, will need to fly 80 hours or 125 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 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.

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 Iowa Hummingbirds Go in the Winter?

Iowa Ruby-throated, Rufous, Mexican violetear, and Broad-billed 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 overwinters primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
These 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.

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.

Anna’s – The Anna’s hummingbird overwinters primarily in Southern California and the upper parts of Baja and Mexico.
Anna’s 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-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.

To see all the hummingbirds seen in Iowa
Read my article:
Iowa Hummingbirds: 5 Awesome Documented Species

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

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