Hummingbird Migration
Spring 2011

Hummingbird Migration Spring 2011......

There is a myth that hummingbirds hitchhike on the backs of geese!

Hummingbirds do not fly very high during migration.

So there flies the myth that these tiny birds hitchhike south on the backs of Canadian Geese.

(To estimate the Spring arrival of the hummingbirds in your area, you can get an idea of the arrival dates by looking at this map and sightings [Hummingbird Migration Spring 2011] along with the map and sightings of the Hummingbird Migration Spring 2012 page.) 

Hummingbirds need to be able to see food sources along the land route stopping along the way for a good meal at our feeders and flowers.

(Don’t take down your feeders too soon if you live along a hummingbird migration route, a poor hummer might be disappointed.)

Usually, they do not fly higher than many rooftops.

Over water, these iridescent creatures fly extremely low, often flying just above the waves.

Besides all of this, hummingbirds migrate alone not in flocks.

Perhaps some tender-hearted hummingbird lover had wished for a soft cushion ride for these wonders of nature.

The Ruby-throated hummingbird flies from as far north as Southern Canada all the way to southern Mexico and Central America, including the remarkable
300 mile non-stop flight across the Gulf of Mexico.

The Rufus hummingbird has an even longer migration. Some fly 3,000 miles from their breeding grounds in Alaska to Mexico, it’s winter home.

Maybe, these incredible journeys seemed to difficult for this delicate bird and so this story of migration on the backs of geese was invented to create an explanation.

As it turns out, hummingbird migration is just one more reason for us all to wonder at the astonishing capabilities of the beloved hummingbird.

Use the table of sightings below to estimate the arrival of hummingbirds in 2013 to your garden and hummingbird feeders.

HUMMINGBIRD MIGRATION SPRING 2011 - SIGHTINGS

LOCATION	DATE
San Angelo, Texas	March 6, 2011
Nanaimo, British Columbia	March 14, 2011
Mobile, Alabama	March 15, 2011
Kendrick, Colorado	March 15, 2011
Purvis, Mississippi	March 16, 2011
Central, Texas	March 19, 2011
Ellisville, Mississippi	March 21, 2011
Southern, Nevada	March 22, 2011
Vallejo, California	March 23, 2011
Idabel, Oklahoma	March 23, 2011
Hoover, Alabama	March 25, 2011
Conway, South Carolina	March 26, 2011
Ballinger, Texas	March 27, 2011
Hudson, Florida	March 30, 2011
Eatonton, Georgia	March 30, 2011
Homer, Louisiana	April 1, 2011
Spartanburg, South Carolina	April 2, 2011
South Hill, Washington	April 2, 2011
Ferry, North Carolina	April 2, 2011
Sneads Ferry, North Carolina	April 2, 2011
Portland, Oregon	April 2, 2011
Columbia, South Carolina	April 3, 2011
Lake Cormorant, Mississippi	April 3, 2011
Ropesville, Texas	April 5, 2011
Fayetteville, North Carolina	April 7, 2011
Charlotte, North Carolina	April 7, 2011
Sevierville, Tennessee	April 10, 2011
College Station, Texas	April 10, 2011
Bedford, Virginia	April 11, 2011
Franklinton, North Carolina	April 13, 2011
Williamston, South Carolina	April 13, 2011
Quincy, California	April 13, 2011
Conyers, Georgia	April 15, 2011
Woodward, Ohlahoma	April 17, 2011
Lewisburg, West Virginia	April 18, 2011
Spencer, West Virginia	April 18, 2011
Parker, Colorado	April 19, 2011
Coatsville, Pennsylvania	April 20, 2011
Mitchell, Indiana	April 21, 2011
Willow Springs, Missouri	April 23, 2011
Mt. Juliet, Tennessee	April 23, 2011
York Haven, Pennsylvania	April 23, 2011
Nine Mile Falls, Washington	April 23, 2011
Morgantown, Indiana	April 23, 2011
Greenville, Indiana	April 24, 2011
London, Ohio	April 24, 2011
Parker, Colorado	April 24, 2011
Bloomfield, Missouri	April 25, 2011
Sullivan, Montana	April 25, 2011
Northborough, Massachusetts	April 26, 2011
Poland, Indiana	April 26, 2011
Chemung, New York	April 27, 2011
Loveland, Ohio	April 27, 2011
Foxboro, Massachusetts	April 27, 2011
Weedville, Pennsylvania	April 27, 2011
Annandale, Virginia	April 27, 2011
Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania	April 28, 2011
Toledo, Ohio	April 29, 2011
Lafayette, Indiana	April 30, 2011
Carbondale, Colorado	May 1, 2011
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania	May 2, 2011
Spring, Texas	May 2, 2011
Fenton, Michigan	May 2, 2011
Mishawaka, Indiana	May 2, 2011
Stillwater, New York	May 3, 2011
Bennington, Vermont	May 3, 2011
Richboro, Pennsylvania	May 4, 2011
Prospect, Ohio	May 4, 2011
Falmouth, Maine	May 4, 2011
Toms River, New Jersey	May 5, 2011
Nunica, Michigan	May 5, 2011
Patterson, New York	May 5, 2011
Bishop, Texas	May 5, 2011
Pleasant, Pennsylvania	May 5, 2011
Strong City, Kansas	May 6, 2011
Forest, Illinois	May 6, 2011
Hilton, New York	May 8, 2011
Evanston, Wyoming	May 8, 2011
Easton, Pennsylvania	May 10, 2011
Boise, Idaho	May 10, 2011
Elmore, Vermont	May 10, 2011
Fernie, British Columbia	May 10, 2011
Kamloops, British Columbia	May 11, 2011
Plainfield, Indiana	May 12, 2011
Lazare, Quebec	May 13, 2011
West Campton, New Hampshire	May 14, 2011
Lake City, Utah	May 14, 2011
Rockaway, New Jersey	May 14, 2011
Sodus, New York	May 17, 2011
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan	May 17, 2011
Hansen, Idaho	May 23, 2011
Fitchburg, Massachusetts	May 23, 2011
Merrimack, New Hampshire	June 2, 2011
Valatie, New York	June 5, 2011

Please fill out the form to share "your hummingbird migration sightings of 2013".
We, who are anxiously awaiting the Spring or Fall arrivals, will be able to track the migration through your posts.

HUMMINGBIRD MIGRATION SPRING 2011 - MAP

Click the markers to see the location of that sighting.

The Yellow Markers represent sightings in March.
The Red Markers represent sightings in April.
The Blue Markers represent sightings in May.
The Green Markers represent sightings in June.

---

Hummingbird Guide › Hummingbird Migration 2012 › Spring Migration 2011

---