Do Central Florida Ruby Throats Migrate?

[stevewoods]

I'm sure this info is common knowledge but I don't know where to look for it. Do our Florida Ruby Throats migrate south and, if so, when? We are in central Lake County and have had a pair, one male and one female, visiting our feeders all summer long since spring but we haven't seen them now for about a week. Did they go to Mexico or are they supposed to be year round residents here?

[Steve Backes]

Steve, To the best of our knowledge, all of Florida's breeding hummingbirds migrate. I can't say how far or where they go to but they do leave their breeding grounds. Many birds migrate through Florida and some will winter here.

In many cases, breeders migrate out while northern birds are migrating through so the change is not noticed. When some of these northern birds stay the winter, it may appear as though a bird (or birds) have remained in one location for the full year.

The timing is right for your birds to be migrating south but others may still arrive, some to stay the winter. Keep your feeders out, and clean, if you'd like to attract migrants. The migrants may visit once or a couple of days but will soon be on their way south. There will be days (or groups of days) when you don't see any. Keep the feeders up at least until a few days after the first frost if you'd like to attract a wintering bird.

Steve

[Joe M]

The only hummingbird know to be non migratory is the Anna's. Arizona, So. Ca to Oregon.
All the other species are believed to migrate annually, including the Ruby-throated. Not all migrate in the fall to Mexico and Central America. Some (very few) over-winter along the gulf coast and throughout FL. The breeding birds in central and northern FL appear to migrate across the Gulf in the Fall.
For the time being this is the accepted thought on the subject. Untill such time that more banding is conducted in the summer months, we won't really know.
Joe M
Lakeland

[stevewoods]

Thanks Steve and Joe for your quick replys and your knowledgeable information. Our feeders look mighty lonesome right now but we will keep them clean and refilled in hopes of travelling visitors and maybe our pair will return next spring?

[flashieb]

I'm so happy to have discovered your site this morning; I was in search of the same information regarding RTHB migration from central Florida and the info provided on the site was helpful.
I live in north Lakeland and I've had a pair of hummers for the past few summers. They rarely frequent the feeders, preferring the firebush, firecracker, porter weed and their favorite plant in my yard, the cigar plant.
The male RTHB was feeding this morning on their plant so hooray they're still here!!!!
I will keep my feeders out for as long as I continue to see the hummers.
Thank you for having a place where "Hummer Lovers" can share and exchange information!