Vermont Hummingbird Migration: 3 Awesome Travelers

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

When Do Vermont Hummingbirds Arrive?

According to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VFWD), during spring migration, Vermont hummingbirds begin to arrive as early as the beginning of May 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 Vermont for hummingbirds occurs in early May.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most commonly seen Vermont hummingbird.

Vermont hummingbirds starting their spring migration north from Panama City, Panama need to fly about 4,741 miles over land or 2,473 miles if they fly over the Gulf of America, to reach Burlington, Vermont.

Vermont hummingbirds starting their journey north from Mexico, at the United States’ southernmost border at Brownsville Texas, need to fly 1,865 miles to reach Burlington.

Are There Vermont Hummingbirds That Live in the State Year-Round?

There are no hummingbird species that live in Vermont year-round.
The Ruby-throated, Rufous, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds all 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.

Which Vermont Hummingbirds Breed and Nest in the State?

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds and nests in Vermont.
Most Ruby-throated hummingbirds will raise two broods in Vermont but some of the early arriving or late leaving Ruby-throated hummingbirds will have enough time to raise a third brood in the same year.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds 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 in Vermont.
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 Vermont Hummingbirds?

Vermont hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in early April to attract the very earliest arriving migrating hummingbirds.
The peak migration period occurs in early 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 Vermont Hummingbirds Stay in the State?

Vermont hummingbirds stay in the state for at least six months.
The first migrating hummingbirds arrive in Vermont in April and the last migrating hummingbirds are usually gone by early October.
No hummingbird species live in Vermont 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

The most common Vermont 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 Vermont by 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.

Vermont 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 Vermont Hummingbirds Leave the State?

According to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VFWD), during fall migration, Vermont hummingbirds have left the state by the end of September and have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Vermont year-round.

A few older hummingbirds will be the first to start the fall migration as early as late 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 Vermont Hummingbirds?

Mid-to-late October, or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove Vermont hummingbird feeders for the winter.
Feeders are left up all winter by some Vermonters to feed the uncommon 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:
1 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 Vermont Hummingbird to Migrate?

A Vermont hummingbird requires 62 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from Burlington to the most distant Mexican border 1,865 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 2,473 miles across the Gulf of America or 4,741 miles over land, will need to fly 82 or 158 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 Vermont Hummingbirds Go in the Winter?

Vermont’s Ruby-throated, Rufous, and Mexican Violetear hummingbirds 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.
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.

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

All hummingbirds have excellent memories and can remember every flower or feeder they visited during spring migration and will return to those locations along their migration pathway year after year.

Some hummingbirds have been documented returning to a feeder for a couple of years after it was removed.

To see all the hummingbirds seen in Vermont
Read my article:
Vermont Hummingbirds: 3 Awesome Documented Species

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions

Happy Hummingbird Watching!