Hummingbirds Migrate Through Wyoming On Epic Journey To Mexico
I know you've heard that your grandparents are snowbirds, right? They've dealt with Wyoming winters long enough, so when the weather changes and turns cold, they move somewhere warmer for the next few months.
The name snowbird comes from, well, birds that do the same thing. They summer in the north and head south for the winter. Many of those birds will call Wyoming home in spring and summer, then, like your grandparents, head to the Southern US or Mexico in winter.
One of those birds is the hummingbird.
Multiple hummingbird species use Wyoming as breeding grounds; some just hang out for a bit and then travel up to 1500 miles to survive the cold winter.
According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, three hummingbirds are confirmed to breed in Wyoming, one is suspected of breeding, and a couple have been spotted but are not confirmed to be breeding.
Breeders:
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird (most common)
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
Suspected Breeder:
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
No Record of Breeding:
- Anna's Hummingbird
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Spotted, but not Common:
- Rivoli's Hummingbird
As summer starts ticking away, male hummingbirds head south, with the adult males leaving first, then the females, and then the young birds head out through September and into mid-October.
According to Hummingbird Central, these little suckers normally travel about 23 miles per day, so it can take weeks to reach their destination. They fly low and fast, using tailwinds to help them travel.
If you're wondering if you can keep the hummingbirds around longer by leaving your feeder out, the answer is no. They naturally start heading south as the days get shorter, and their instinct kicks in.
Actually, leaving hummingbird feeders out too long can be a problem since Wyoming is bear country. Bears look to pack on the pounds for winter, and bird feeders are an easy target. It's best to take them down and wait until the spring migration to put them up.