The 4,000-mile Migration of Native Hummingbirds Is About to Begin – Here’s How You Can Help These Winged Wonders
Found across North, Central and South America, hummingbirds are dazzling miniature birds that have long attracted our fascination. Every year, hummingbirds can be seen in backyard borders, feeding on nectar-rich blooms and flitting from plant to plant at frenetic speeds. They are always a welcome sight and a sign that your outside space is attractive to native birds.
Towards the end of summer, many hummingbird species from the United States migrate southwards for the cold winter months. This hummingbird migration is a remarkable phenomenon, with some species travelling up to 4,000 miles from Alaska to Mexico. One of the most recognizable species, the ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, seen in the image below, weighs under 3 grams but can travel 500 miles in under a day. Proof, I think, that small is mighty.
Sadly, over 191 hummingbird species from across the Americas are experiencing declining population trends, but there are ways you can help native species as they commence their migration. So, if you are keen to attract hummingbirds, or you are looking for wildlife garden ideas this year, the following simple steps will have a big impact on migrating birds.