North Carolina Hummingbird Migration: 11 Documented Super Aviators

Nine common questions about the migration of North Carolina hummingbirds are discussed in this article.

11 Documented North Carolina Hummingbirds Seen In The State
Listed In Order Of Frequency Seen:

Hummingbirds:	Number seen:	Documented:	% of total:
Ruby-throated	143,276	Documented	98.75%
Rufous	1,146	Documented	0.80%
Black-chinned	135	Documented	0.09%
Buff-bellied	123	Documented	0.08%
Calliope	114	Documented	0.08%
Broad-billed	76	Documented	0.05%
Anna’s	70	Documented	0.05%
Broad-tailed	63	Documented	0.04%
Allen’s	48	Documented	0.03%
Green-breasted Mango	22	Documented	0.02%
Mexican Violetear	5	Documented	0.003%
Total Hummingbirds:	145,078

When Do North Carolina Hummingbirds Arrive?

The earliest arrivals of North Carolina hummingbirds are seen in early March, and new arrivals continue through June.
The heaviest North Carolina hummingbirds’ arrival time is at the end of April and the beginning of May.

North Carolina hummingbirds begin their spring migration north from as far away as Panama or as close as Mexico.
Some cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single nonstop flight, while others travel along the coast.

North Carolina hummingbirds starting their spring migration north from Panama City, Panama need to fly about 3,999 miles to reach Raleigh over land and 1,845 miles if flying across the Gulf of Mexico.
North Carolina hummingbirds starting their journey north from Mexico, at the United States’ southernmost border at Brownsville Texas, need to fly 1,681 miles to reach North Carolina.

North Carolina hummingbirds arrive as early as March, while some late migrators may arrive as late as June, but by the end of June, all hummingbirds that are migrating further than North Carolina are gone from North Carolina.

The first migrating hummingbirds will be males followed by the females about a week later. The males arrive first to stake out his territory that he will defend as he tries to attract a female.
Keep your eye out for the brightly colored gorget of the male, the females will start showing up at your feeders about a week later.

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

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most commonly seen North Carolina hummingbirds, and will probably be the first migrating hummingbirds to be seen in North Carolina.

According to North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS), the Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds in the eastern United States, including North Carolina.

All other hummingbirds seen in North Carolina are just passing through to continue their journey North into the eastern half of the United States all the way into Canada to their nesting destination.

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.

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that nests in North Carolina. On average they 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.

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

There are no year-round North Carolina hummingbird residents.
Some hummingbirds will choose to overwinter in North Carolina, as will those hummingbirds too old or injured to migrate.

Hummingbirds can withstand far lower temperatures than most people think.

According to eBird.org, through branding practices in Wisconsin, the Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds are documented surviving in temperatures of -9F and wind chills of -36F.
See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded

Which North Carolina Hummingbirds Breed and Nest in the State?

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

In North Carolina, the primary hummingbird species that breeds and nests is the Ruby-throated hummingbird. This species is widespread across the state during the spring and summer months, establishing territories in a variety of habitats.

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.

The male Ruby-throated hummingbird 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)

Spring migration in North Carolina is from March to May with peak arrivals between late March to mid-April.

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that nests in North Carolina. On average they 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 North Carolina Hummingbirds?

North Carolina hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in early March to attract the very earliest arriving migrating hummingbirds.
The majority of North Carolina migrating hummingbirds will arrive in May.

In North Carolina, put out your hummingbird feeder in early March or approximately two weeks before their expected arrival. Their spring migration is from March to early May as they migrate north from their wintering grounds in Central America.

Other North Carolina hummingbirds will continue to arrive until about mid-June.
Hummingbirds seen in North Carolina after mid-June will be hummingbirds that will spend their entire summer in North Carolina.

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

Some North Carolina hummingbird enthusiasts leave their hummingbird feeders up throughout the winter to supply life-sustaining nectar to migratory species that are unable to travel due to injury or old age, as well as hummingbirds that choose to spend the winter in Indiana.

See my article: 11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing

How Long Do North Carolina Hummingbirds Stay in the State?

The first migrating hummingbirds arrive in North Carolina in early March and the last migrating hummingbirds are usually gone by early October. 
Some Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Anna’s, and Allen’s hummingbirds occasionally overwinter in North Carolina

Hummingbirds stay in North Carolina from early March during the beginning of spring migration to early October through fall migration. The exact timing depends on the season and the age and sex of the birds.

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

Peak spring migrating hummingbirds arrive in North Carolina in late March to mid-April, where the males arrive first to establish territories and the females follow a week or two later.

During the breeding season, Ruby-throated hummingbirds remain in North Carolina to mate, build nests, and raise their young.

As summer sets in, the number of spring migrating hummingbirds that visit North Carolina feeders will decrease.
The most common migrating seasonal Ruby-throated hummingbirds in North Carolina brave through the heat and humidity and will be the vast majority of hummingbirds seen in North Carolina’s summer months, with the Rufous hummingbirds being a distant second.

See my article:
How to Help Hummingbirds in Hot Weather

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 Cool Hummingbird Nectar in Hot Weather

Fall migration begins in August and most hummingbirds will be gone from North Carolina by October.

Some North Carolina migrating hummingbirds such as the Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Anna’s, and Allen’s have been seen during winter, but most migrate south for the winter.

Hummingbirds can withstand far lower temperatures than most people think.

According to eBird.org, through branding practices in Wisconsin, the Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds are documented surviving in temperatures of -9F and wind chills of -36F.
See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded

In Pennsylvania, a state known for its cold harsh winters, the Valley Forge Audubon Society reports winter sightings of the Allen’s, Calliope, Rufous, and Black-chinned hummingbirds.

When Do North Carolina Hummingbirds Leave the State?

North Carolina hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as July, and by late October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.

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

Most of North Carolina’s migrating hummingbirds are gone by the end of October but a few stragglers might stay until the end of the year.
This elongated migration time frame ensures late straggling migrants have enough food available to fuel their bodies before making the long taxing migration south for the winter.

Some North Carolina migrating hummingbirds such as the Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Anna’s, and Allen’s have been seen during winter, however most migrate south for the winter.
There are some migrating hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate that will also occasionally overwinter in North Carolina.

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.

When Should I Take Down My Feeders For North Carolina Hummingbirds?

Take down hummingbird feeders in North Carolina by late October or after there have been no consistent hummingbirds at the feeder for a couple of weeks.
Feeders can be up all winter to feed some overwintering, migrating or injured hummingbirds, but removal in mid-winter can be fatal.

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.
Hummingbird enthusiasts who leave hummingbird feeders up all winter provide much-welcome nutrition for late migrators and hummingbirds too old or injured to migrate.

There is no harm in leaving feeders out through the winter—if no hummingbirds are present, it will not interfere with migration, and it can help vagrant or overwintering hummingbirds in North Carolina.

By keeping feeders available and maintaining them during the migration period, you will provide critical support for hummingbirds as they prepare for their long journey south.

The challenge then becomes preventing hummingbird nectar from freezing.
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: 
Should I Keep My Hummingbird Feeder Out During the Winter?

Hummingbirds can withstand far lower temperatures than most people think.

According to eBird.org, through branding practices in Wisconsin, the Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds are documented surviving in temperatures of -9F and wind chills of -36F.
See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded

Investing in a hummingbird feeder warmer, such as the Hummer Health feeder heater, is one approach to prevent hummingbird nectar from freezing.
Unfortunately, it is only compatible with a select few types of hummingbird feeders, such as the Aspect’s HummZinger feeder.

See my article: 
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing

How Long Does It Take North Carolina Hummingbirds to Migrate?

It takes North Carolina hummingbirds 56 hours of flying at its average flight speed of 30mph to fly from Raleigh to the most distant Mexican border 1,681 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 1,845 miles across the Gulf of Mexico, or 3,999 miles over land, will need to fly 61 hours or 133 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.

Expect to see an increased volume of southern migrating hummingbird visitors to your feeders in North Carolina during the fall migration from August through October.

See my article: 
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food

Where Do North Carolina Hummingbirds Go in the Winter?

Some North Carolina hummingbirds; Ruby-throated, Rofus, and Allen’s, stay in North Carolina all winter.
All North Carolina migrating 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. 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. 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.

Black-chinned – The Black-chinned hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico. Black-chinned hummingbirds 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.

Buff-bellied – The Buff-bellied hummingbirds are not really migratory and live year-round in Southern Texas and the Gulf Coast of Mexico.

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.

Broad-billed – The Broad-billed hummingbird overwinters primarily in Mexico. Broad-billed hummingbirds are seen in some years, during the winter months, in scattered areas throughout the USA, including Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Florida, and Utah.

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-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.

Green-breasted Mango – The Green-breasted Mango hummingbird overwinters primarily in Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Mexican Violetear – The Mexican Violetear hummingbird 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.

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.
See my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food

For more information about North Carolina hummingbirds read my post:
Hummingbirds Found in North Carolina: (Pictures and Sounds)

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!