Nebraska Hummingbird Migration: 8 Awesome Travelers

Nine common questions regarding the migration of Nebraska hummingbirds are discussed in this article.

When Do Nebraska Hummingbirds Arrive?

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

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

Nebraska hummingbirds starting their spring migration north from Panama City, Panama need to fly about 3,959 miles over land or 2,439 miles if flying across the Gulf of America to reach Omaha, Nebraska.

Nebraska hummingbirds starting their journey north from the southernmost border at Brownsville Texas, need to fly 1,062 miles to reach Omaha.

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

There are no hummingbird species that live in Nebraska year-round.
Nebraska 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

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.

See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded

Which Nebraska Hummingbirds Breed and Nest in the State?

The Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the most common hummingbird that breed and nest in Nebraska.
However, according to ebird.org the Broad-tailed has a very rare documented breeding sighting in the southwest quarter of Nebraska, close to the Wyoming border.

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.

Broad-tailed – The Broad-tailed hummingbird breeds primarily in the western United States and the center of Mexico.
However, according to ebird.org the Broad-tailed has a very rare documented breeding sighting in the southwest quarter of Nebraska, close to the Wyoming border.

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 Nebraska.
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 Nebraska Hummingbirds?

Nebraska hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in mid to late 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 Nebraska Hummingbirds Stay in the State?

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

Hummingbird Seasons in Nebraska

Season:	Activity:
Mid-to-late April	First arriving (Ruby-throated)
May – July	Breeding and nesting
Late July – Early September	Peak Activity (when fledglings leave the nest and migrants head south for the winter)
Late September – 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 Nebraska hummingbird seen during the hot summer months will be the Ruby-throated hummingbird with Rufous hummingbirds being a far 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 late September and most hummingbirds will be gone from Nebraska by mid-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.

Nebraska 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 Nebraska Hummingbirds Leave the State?

Nebraska hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as September and by mid-October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Nebraska 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 Nebraska Hummingbirds?

Mid-October, or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove Nebraska hummingbird feeders for the winter.
Feeders are left up all winter by some Nebraska enthusiasts to feed hummingbirds that are 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.
Either way is ok, as long as it is consistent.

See my article:
Should I Keep My Hummingbird Feeder Out During the Winter?

How Long Does It Take a Nebraska Hummingbird to Migrate?

A Nebraska hummingbird requires 35 hours flying at its average flight speed of 30mph to fly from Omaha to the most distant Mexican border at Brownsville, Texas, 1,062 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama, 2,439 miles across the Gulf of America or 3,959 over land, need to fly 81 or 131 hours respectively.

Some fly at a 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.

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 Nebraska Hummingbirds Go in the Winter?

Nebraska Ruby-throated, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Black-chinned, Costa’s, 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.
They 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.
They 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.

Broad-tailed – The Broad-tailed hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico and Guatemala. They are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas in Western Texas.

Calliope – The Calliope hummingbird overwinters primarily on the west coast of Mexico.
They are seen in some years, during winter months, in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

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

Anna’s – The Anna’s hummingbird overwinters primarily along the western coastline of North America, starting from southern Canada all the way to northern Baja California.
The rest of winter Anna’s residents are also seen in northern Mexico.

Costa’s – The Costa’s hummingbird overwinters primarily in Southern California, Southern Arizona, Baja California, and the Western Coast of Mexico.
They are seen in some years, during the winter months, in Nevada and Utah.

Broad-billed – The Broad-billed hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico.
They 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 Nebraska
Read my article:
Nebraska Hummingbirds: 8 Awesome Documented Species

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions