Oklahoma Hummingbird Migration: 9 Awesome Travelers
Nine common questions regarding the migration of Oklahoma hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
When Do Oklahoma Hummingbirds Arrive?
According to Oklahoma’s Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC), during spring migration, Oklahoma hummingbirds begin to arrive as early as mid-March with males arriving 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 Oklahoma for hummingbirds occurs in April and the later migrants arrive in May.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most commonly seen Oklahoma hummingbird.
Some late migrators may arrive as late as June. By the end of June, all hummingbirds that are migrating further than Oklahoma are gone from Oklahoma.

Royal Catchfly – (Silene Regia)
Photo by: Andy Raupp
Note: The Ruby-throated hummingbird is drinking from a Royal Catchfly – (Silene Regia) that is found in Oklahoma.

Red Bee Balm – (Monarda didyma)
Photo by: Andy Raupp
Oklahoma hummingbirds starting their spring migration north from Panama City, Panama need to fly about 3,226 miles over land or 2,148 miles if flying across the Gulf of Mexico to reach Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma hummingbirds starting their journey north from Mexico, at the United States’ southernmost border at Brownsville Texas, need to fly 738 miles to reach Oklahoma City.
Which Oklahoma hummingbirds breed and nest in the state?
According to the OKC Audubon Society, the Ruby-throated and Black-chinned hummingbirds are the only hummingbirds that breed and nest in Oklahoma.
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.

Photo by: Dgen.photos

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.

Photo by: hummingbirdsbysuprise

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 and Black-chinned hummingbirds 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 Oklahoma hummingbirds?
For Oklahoma, the best time to put up hummingbird feeders is mid to late March, as the first migrating hummingbirds start to arrive.
The peak migration period occurs in April, 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.

Photo by: dgen.photos
How long do Oklahoma hummingbirds stay in the state?
The first migrating hummingbirds arrive in Oklahoma in mid-March and the last migrating hummingbirds are usually gone by early November.
Some Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, and Anna’s hummingbirds occasionally overwinter in Oklahoma, but most migrate south for the winter.
No hummingbird species live in Oklahoma year-round.
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

Red Bee Balm – (Monarda didyma)
Photo by: Andy Raupp
The most common Oklahoma hummingbirds seen during the hot summer months will be the Ruby-throated and Black-chinned 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 late August and most hummingbirds will be gone from Oklahoma by November.
Some migrating seasonal hummingbirds choose to over-winter in Oklahoma and those too old or injured to migrate will be the only likely hummingbirds Oklahoma 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
According to eBird.org, through branding practices in Wisconsin, the Ruby-throated and Rufous hummingbirds have been documented surviving in temperatures of -9F and wind chills of -36F.
Read my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded
When do Oklahoma hummingbirds leave the state?
Oklahoma hummingbirds begin leaving the state and begin their fall migration in late August and by November they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Oklahoma year-round.
Peak departures occur in September and early October.
Most of Oklahoma migrating hummingbirds are gone by the end of November 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 migrating seasonal hummingbirds choose to over-winter in Oklahoma and those too old or injured to migrate will be the only likely hummingbirds Oklahoma hummingbird enthusiasts will see during the winter.
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 hummingbird feeders in Oklahoma?
Take down hummingbird feeders in Oklahoma by mid-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.
Either way is ok, as long as it is consistent.
See my article:
Should I Keep My Hummingbird Feeder Out During the Winter?

Photo By: Bob Free Photography
The Ruby-throated, Black-chinned, Rufous, and Anna’s hummingbirds occasionally overwinter in Oklahoma can depend on the nectar that some hummingbird fans leave out all winter long.
Keeping hummingbird feeders up during the winter is a noble gesture that helps them, however the challenge then becomes preventing the nectar from freezing.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways To Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
Hummingbird enthusiasts who leave hummingbird feeders up all winter provide much-welcome nutrition for late migrators and hummingbirds too old or injured to migrate.
If the feeders are taken down in the middle of winter during periods of below-freezing temperatures, hummingbirds can die.
How long does it take an Oklahoma hummingbird to migrate?
An Oklahoma hummingbird requires 25 hours of flying at its average flight speed of 30mph to fly from Oklahoma City to the most distant Mexican border 738 miles away.
Oklahoma hummingbirds migrating to Panama 2,148 miles across the Gulf of Mexico or 3,226 over land, will need to fly 72 or 108 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.
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 Oklahoma Hummingbirds Go in the Winter?
Oklahoma’s migrating hummingbirds travel south to 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.

Photo by: Andy Raupp

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.

Photo by: hummingbirdsbysuprise

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.

Photo by: Kevin Walsh

Broad-billed – Broad-billed hummingbird overwinters primarily on the west coast of Mexico with scattered locations throughout the eastern half of the United States.

Photo by: Anthony Lujan

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.

Photo by: sony_alpha_male

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.

Photo by: Ernesto Perez

Costa’s– The Costa’s hummingbird overwinters 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.

Photo by: bird.whisperer

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.

Photo by: bird.whisperer

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.

Photo by: Kevin Walsh

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.
Read my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food
To see all the hummingbirds seen in Oklahoma
Read my article:
Oklahoma Hummingbirds: 9 Awesome Documented Species
Happy Hummingbird Watching!