New Jersey Hummingbird Migration: 8 Awesome Travelers

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

When Do New Jersey Hummingbirds Arrive?

According to Rutgers, the state University of New Jersey, their Agricultural Experiment Station says Ruby-throated hummingbirds first arrive in mid-April to New Jersey.

Males arrive first to stake out the territory that they will defend as they try to attract a female.
Females follow about a week later on their journey north to their preferred nesting area, somewhere near their own birth.

See my article:
How to Identify a Hummingbird’s Gender in 4 Easy Steps

Peak spring migration in New Jersey for hummingbirds occurs in early May.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most commonly seen New Jersey hummingbird.

New Jersey hummingbirds starting their spring migration north from Panama City, Panama, and flying across the Gulf of America, need to fly 2,170 miles to reach Trento. If flying all over land they need to fly 4,381 miles.

New Jersey hummingbirds starting their journey north from Mexico, at the United States’ southernmost border at Brownsville Texas, must fly 1,639 miles to reach Trenton.

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

There are no hummingbird species that live in New Jersey year-round, however, some Rufous and Allen’s hummingbirds occasionally are seen in the middle of winter.
All other hummingbirds migrate south to their wintering grounds during fall migration.

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.

Rufous hummingbird: Occasionally seen in the winter in New Jersey.

According to eBird.org, there are rare documented occasions of Allen’s hummingbirds overwintering in New Jersey.

Which New Jersey Hummingbirds Breed and Nest in the State?

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

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.
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 New Jersey Hummingbirds?

New Jersey 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 peak hummingbird season between April 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.

How Long Do New Jersey Hummingbirds Stay in the State?

The first migrating hummingbirds arrive in New Jersey in mid-April and the last migrating hummingbirds are usually gone by early October.
Some Rufous and Allen’s hummingbirds occasionally overwinter in New Jersey, but most migrate south for the winter.
No hummingbird species live in New Jersey year-round.

Hummingbird Seasons in New Jersey

Season:	Activity:
Mid-to-late April	First arriving (Ruby-throated)
May – August	Peak season for breeding and nesting
Late August – September	Fall migration
October – Late January	Rare overwintering species (Rufous & Allen’s)

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 New Jersey hummingbird seen during the hot summer months will be 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 New Jersey by early 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.

New Jersey 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 New Jersey Hummingbirds Leave the State?

New Jersey hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as late August and by early October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
Some older hummingbirds will begin their fall migration from New Jersey earlier than others.
No hummingbirds live in New Jersey year-round.

Fall Migration Schedule in New Jersey

Late August – Early September	Adult males migrate first (Ruby-throated)
Mid-September – Early October	Females and juveniles follow
Mid-to-Late October	Stragglers are seen, but most have left
October – Late January	Rare overwintering species (Rufous & Allen’s)

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 New Jersey Hummingbirds?

Mid-to-late October, or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove New Jersey hummingbird feeders for the winter.
Feeders are left up all winter by some New Jerseyans to feed the uncommon winter hummingbirds and those that are too old or injured to migrate.

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.

See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded

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 New Jersey Hummingbird to Migrate?

New Jersey hummingbirds require 55 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from Trenton to the most distant USA/Mexican border 1,639 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama, 2,170 miles across the Gulf of America, or 4,381 miles over land, will need to fly 72 or 146 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 New Jersey Hummingbirds Go in the Winter?

New Jersey Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Broad-billed, and Mexican Violetear migrating hummingbirds travel travel south to over-winter in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

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.

Calliope – The Calliope hummingbird overwinters primarily on the west coast of Mexico.
Calliope hummingbirds 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.

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

Broad-billed – The Broad-billed hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico.
They are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas in Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

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

Every hummingbird has an exceptional memory. Throughout their spring migration, they can recall every flower or feeder they visited, and they will revisit those spots every year.

Hummingbirds have been seen to return to a feeder even after it has been removed for a few years.

To see all the hummingbirds seen in New Jersey
Read my article:
New Jersey Hummingbirds: 8 Awesome Documented Species

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions