09/24/2026
I still have hummingbirds!
Hummingbird Migration: Today was the first day in well over a month that I have not seen a Ruby-throated Hummingbird at any of my feeders. Overnight winds were from the northeast at 16 mph, so I suspect some or most of them headed south.
They fly between 25 and 30 miles per hour, and the tailwind speed is added to produce possibly 45 mph meaning they won't remain in Illinois long.
Some of them fly a total of 1200 miles on migration probably over a period of two or three weeks.
They add on body weight to fuel the flight over the Gulf of Mexico, which averages 500 miles perhaps with a stop in Cuba, an oil platform, or maybe a boat for a rest. That's pretty impressive for birds that weigh in at only a tenth of an ounce or 3.2 grams, comparable to three paper clips.
My rule of thumb is that they remain here until around the 1st of October, give or take a week or so depending on overnight wind direction. They'll take advantage of overnight northerly winds to add speed to their flights.
Are they gone for good this year? Maybe not. Birds from farther north may show up here in the next few days, and some will find our feeders. It's a good idea to keep at least one filled until around mid-October.
