New Mexico Hummingbird Migration: 17 Fabulous Flyers
Ten common questions regarding the migration of New Mexico hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
When do hummingbirds arrive in New Mexico?
The earliest arrivals of New Mexico hummingbirds are seen in mid-to-late March, with peak migration occurring in April and May.
New Mexico 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.
Black-chinned hummingbirds are by far the most commonly seen and are the first migrating hummingbirds to be seen in New Mexico.
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
Photo by: bird.whisperer
New Mexico hummingbirds starting their spring migration north from Panama City, Panama need to fly 3,439 miles over land or 2,484 miles if flying across the Gulf of America to reach Albuquerque.
New Mexico hummingbirds starting their journey north from Mexico, at the United States’ southernmost border at Brownsville Texas, need to fly 845 miles to reach Albuquerque.
What are the most common hummingbirds seen in New Mexico?
The Black-chinned hummingbirds are by far the most common hummingbirds seen in New Mexico, with the Broad-tailed hummingbird being a close second.
These are New Mexico’s statistics at the beginning of 2025 as reported by ebird.org
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in New Mexico, 5,060 will be Black-chinned.
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in New Mexico, 3,093 will be Broad-tailed.
Photo by: sony_alpha_male
Photo by: bird.whisperer
Are there New Mexico hummingbirds that live in the state year-round?
There are no hummingbird species that live in New Mexico year-round.
However, the Anna’s hummingbirds are not widely considered full year-round residents across all of New Mexico, but they are present year-round in some localized areas, particularly in southern and central parts of the state.
The Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, and Rufous hummingbirds are seen and documented overwintering in the middle of winter in Arizona along with those that are too old or injured to migrate.
All other hummingbird species found in New Mexico are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.
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
Which New Mexico hummingbirds breed and nest in the state?
The 9 hummingbirds that breed and nest in New Mexico in order of frequency seen:
- Black-chinned
- Broad-tailed
- Anna’s
- Broad-billed
- Rivoli’s
- Lucifer
- Violet-crowned
- White-eared
- Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Black-chinned – The Black-chinned hummingbird breeds throughout the western United States extending southward into northern Mexico and northward into southern British Columbia.
The breeding states include Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Broad-tailed – The Broad-tailed hummingbird breeds primarily in the western United States and the center of Mexico. They are noticeably absent in the coastal states of Washington, Oregon and California with the exception of a small along the California/Nevada state line.
Broad-tailed hummingbird breeding states include Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and a small area in South Dakota at the state border with Wyoming.
Anna’s – The Anna’s hummingbird breeds primarily along the western coastline of North America from Vancouver, BC to the southernmost tip of Baja California and extending eastward in central California to include the southern tip of Nevada, about 75% of Arizona, and into the western coast of upper Mexico.
There are isolated scattered breeding areas identified in Idaho, Arkansas, the Chicago area, and northern British Columbia.
Broad-billed – The Broad-billed hummingbird breeds primarily in Mexico with the noticeable absence along the coastline with the Gulf of America.
Their breeding grounds extend northward into areas of Arizona and Texas.
Rivoli’s – The Rivioli’s hummingbird breeds primarily throughout Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. There are a few scattered breeding areas in Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas.
Lucifer – The Lucifer hummingbird breeds primarily in the center of Mexico but extends its breeding grounds northward in a few scattered spots that include the stats of Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas.
Violet-crowned – The Violet-crowned hummingbird breeds primarily along the pacific coastline in Mexico but does have a few scattered breeding sites in southern Arizona and New Mexico.
White-eared – The White-eared hummingbird breeds primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and as far south as Nicaragua with a few scattered breeding sites in southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem –
According to Southwest Audubon New Mexico and the USDA of New Mexico , Blue-throated Mountain-Gem hummingbirds are found nesting in New Mexico.
Photo by: Rekha Pawar
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, breeding hummingbirds in New Mexico 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 out my hummingbird feeders in New Mexico?
New Mexico hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in mid-to-late March to attract the earliest migrating hummingbirds.
The peak spring migration period is 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 New Mexico between mid-to-late March through mid-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.
Recommended Feeder Times in New Mexico
Attract the earliest migrating hummingbirds
| Mid-to-late March | Southern New Mexico (Las Cruces, Alamogordo) |
| Late March to early April | Central New Mexico (Albuquerque, Santa Fe) |
| Mid-to-late April | Northern & Higher Elevations (Taos, Ruidoso) |
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Many New Mexico hummingbird admirers leave their hummingbird feeders up all winter long to provide life-nourishing nectar to hummingbird species that choose to overwinter or those unable to migrate due to injury or old age.
However, most of these hummingbirds will not spend the winter in New Mexico and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
How long do hummingbirds stay in New Mexico?
New Mexico hummingbirds stay in the state for at least seven months.
They will start arriving as early as mid-to-late March and most will be gone by mid-October.
No hummingbird species live in New Mexico year-round.
Hummingbird Seasons in New Mexico
| Season: | Activity: |
| Mid-to-late March | First arriving (Black-chinned) |
| April – August | Peak season for breeding and nesting |
| July – Mid-October | Fall migration |
| November – Beyond | Rare overwintering species (Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Anna’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
Photo by: sony_alpa_male
The most common New Mexico hummingbirds seen during the hot summer months will be the Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rufous, and Calliope hummingbirds.
Rare summer visitors to New Mexico include the Violet-crowned and White-eared hummingbirds.
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 July and most hummingbirds will be gone from New Mexico 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.
Some Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, and Rufous hummingbirds occasionally overwinter in New Mexico, but most migrate south for the winter.
Anna’s hummingbirds are the most common hummingbird to overwinter in New Mexico.
Other migrating seasonal hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate are also birds that New Mexico hummingbird enthusiasts will see during the winter.
Therefore, keeping feeders up during the winter is important.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
When do hummingbirds leave New Mexico?
New Mexico hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as July and by mid-October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in New Mexico year-round, however some choose to overwinter in the state.
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 mid-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 New Mexico hummingbird to migrate?
New Mexico hummingbirds 28 hours of flying at its average flight speed of 30mph to fly from Albuquerque to the most distant Mexican border 845 miles away at Brownsville, Texas.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 2,484 miles across the Gulf of America or 3,439 over land, will need to fly 83 or 115 hours respectively.
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.
Photo by: Bob Free
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 feeders for New Mexico hummingbirds?
During the late fall or after weeks without sightings is ideal for taking down feeders in New Mexico.
Some leave feeders up all winter to support Anna’s hummingbirds, the most common overwintering species, migrating or 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.
Recommended Feeder Removal Timeline In New Mexico
| Region: | Take Down Feeders By: |
| Northern NM (Taos, Ruidoso, Santa Fe, higher elevations) | Late September to early October |
| Central NM (Albuquerque, Socorro, mid-elevation areas) | Mid-to-late October |
| Southern NM (Las Cruces, Alamogordo, lower elevations) | Late October to early November |
| If overwintering hummingbirds are present | Keep at least one feeder up all winter |
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.
Winter feeder tips in New Mexico include:
- Use a heated feeder or bring them inside at night to prevent freezing
- place feeders in sheltered areas to protect them from cold winds.
Photo By: Bob Free Photography
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 New Mexico and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
Where do New Mexico hummingbirds go in the winter?
New Mexico’s Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope, Broad-billed, Rivoli’s, Ruby-throated, Lucifer, Violet-crowned, Costa’s, White-eared, Blue-throated Mt-gem, Berylline, Mexican Violetear, and Cinnamon hummingbirds travel south to winter in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Anna’s over-winter in upper Mexico and California.
Allen’s over-winter in lower Mexico and southern California.
Black-chinned hummingbirds overwinter 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 hummingbirds overwinter primarily in Mexico and Guatemala. Broad-tailed hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas in Western Texas.
Rufous hummingbirds overwinter 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.
Calliope hummingbirds overwinter primarily on the west coast of Mexico. Calliope hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Anna’s hummingbirds overwinter as far north as Alaska, all through Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and as far south as northern Mexico.
Broad-billed hummingbirds overwinters primarily in Mexico. Broad-billed hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA including Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Florida, and Utah.
Rivoli’s hummingbirds overwinters primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Some Ravioli’s hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas of Southern Arizona and Western Texas.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds overwinter 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.
Lucifer hummingbirds overwinter primarily in central Mexico in the Western half of the west side of the country.
Violet-crowned hummingbirds overwinter primarily in Mexico. Violet-crowned hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas of Arizona.
Costa’s hummingbirds overwinter primarily in Southern California, Southern Arizona, Baja California, and the Western Coast of Mexico. The Costa’s hummingbirds are seen in some years, during the winter months, in Nevada and Utah.
White-eared hummingbirds overwinter primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem hummingbirds usually reside in Mexico year-round. Some Blue-throated hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas in Southern Arizona and Western Texas.
Allen’s hummingbirds overwinter primarily in Southern California. The Allen’s hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA including Texas, Tennessee, and as far north as Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin.
Berylline hummingbirds are not really migratory hummingbirds and live year-round in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. They also live year-round in a couple of spots in Southern Arizona.
Mexican Violetear hummingbirds overwinters primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. Mexican Violetear hummingbirds are seen in some years, during winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA including Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana.
Cinnamon hummingbirds are not migratory hummingbirds and are year-round residents on the Western coast of Mexico, all parts of Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
All hummingbirds have excellent memories and can remember every flower or feeder they have visited during migration and will return to those sites along their migration pathway year after year.
Some hummingbirds have been spotted returning to a feeder for a couple of years after the feeder was removed.
To see all the hummingbirds seen in New Mexico
Read my article:
New Mexico Hummingbirds: 17 Awesome Documented Species
Happy Hummingbird Watching!
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