Kentucky Hummingbirds Migration: 6 Documented Stellar Aviators

Nine common questions about migration are discussed in this article about Kentucky hummingbirds.

When Do Kentucky Hummingbirds Arrive?

The earliest arriving Kentucky hummingbirds are seen in mid-to-late March, with peak spring migration occurring in April and May.
Kentucky 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 Kentucky hummingbirds and will be the first migrating hummingbirds to be seen in Kentucky.

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

Kentucky hummingbirds starting their spring migration north from Panama City, Panama need to fly 3,879 miles over land, or 2,052 if flying over the Gulf of America, to reach Louisville.

Kentucky hummingbirds starting their journey north from Mexico at the United States’ southernmost border at Brownsville, Texas, need to fly 1,093 miles to reach Louisville.

Are There Kentucky Hummingbirds That Live In The State Year-round?

There are no hummingbird species that live in Kentucky year-round.
Some Rufous hummingbirds are seen occasionally in the middle of winter as well as others species 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 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

Which Kentucky Hummingbirds Breed And Nest In The State?

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

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 Kentucky.
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 Kentucky Hummingbirds?

Kentucky hummingbird enthusiasts should put up hummingbird feeders in mid-March to attract the very earliest arriving hummingbirds.
The peak spring migration period occurs 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 between April through August.
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 Kentucky Hummingbirds Stay In The State?

Kentucky 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 October.
Some Rufous hummingbirds are seen in Kentucky during the winter, but most migrate south.

Hummingbird Seasons in Kentucky

Season:	Activity:
Mid-to-late March	First arriving (Ruby-throated)
April – August	Peak season for feeding and nesting
September – October	Fall migration
November – 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 Kentucky hummingbird seen during the hot summer months will be the Ruby-throated hummingbird with the Rufous coming in 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 September and most hummingbirds will be gone from Kentucky 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.

The extremely cold-tolerant Rufous hummingbird is the most probable migratory hummingbird to decide to sometimes spend the winter in Kentucky.

Kentucky 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 Kentucky Hummingbirds Leave The State?

During fall migration, Kentucky hummingbirds have left the state by October and have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Kentucky year-round.

A few older hummingbirds will be the first to start the fall migration as early as September, depending on their strength and energy, with the youngest hummingbirds finishing the fall migration by the end 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.

When Should I Take Down My Feeders For Kentucky Hummingbirds?

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

Kentucky hummingbirds require 36 hours of flying at their average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from Louisville to the most distant Mexican border 1,093 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 2,052 miles across the Gulf of America, or 3,879 over land, will need to fly 68 hours or 129 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 Kentucky hummingbirds go in the winter?

Kentucky hummingbirds, Ruby-throated, some Rufous, Allen’s, Black-chinned, Mexican Violetear travel south to overwinter 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.
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.
Rufous 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.
Allen’s hummingbirds are seen in some years, during the winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA, including Texas, Tennessee, and as far north as Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin.

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 the winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA, including Texas, Missouri, Illinois (Chicago area), Maryland, Utah, and Idaho.

Black-chinned – The Black-chinned hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico.
They are seen in some years, during the 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.

Mexican Violetear – The Mexican violetear hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Mexican violetear hummingbirds are seen in some years, during the winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA, including Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana.

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

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions