Ruby Throated Hummingbird Hummingbirds Texas

Ruby throated hummingbirds are the only hummingbirds breeding regularly in eastern north america outside texas and oklahoma.

Ruby throated hummingbird hummingbirds texas.

In more northern states first arrivals are not until april or may. Hummingbirds are overwintering on the gulf coast in greater numbers than in the past and many can be found at feeders in south texas and south louisiana during mild winters. For most people ruby throated hummingbirds are going to be what many people considered to be just a generic hummingbird. To reach these eastern breeding grounds the ruby throated hummingbird takes a perilous route of flying over 500 miles non stop over the gulf of mexico.

Ruby throated hummingbird spring migration. The ruby throat hummingbird is the only species regularly seen in east texas. Ruby throated hummingbirds are common in the eastern half of texas in cities like austin houston and dallas. Ruby throats migrate through texas in large numbers in the fall and mass along the coast gaining critical bodyweight before attempting to cross the gulf of mexico.

For example in south louisiana several species are often spotted during the winter months including the ruby throated rufous black chinned buff bellied calliope. A flash of green and red the ruby throated hummingbird is eastern north america s sole breeding hummingbird. They will vigorously defend a feeder or a group of flowers from other hummingbirds hawk moths and butterflies. The range of this hummingbird overlaps in texas with that of its western counterpart the black chinned hummingbird a.

The ruby throated hummingbird archilochus colubris is a species of hummingbird that generally spends the winter in central america mexico and florida and migrates to canada and other parts of eastern north america for the summer to breed. These brilliant tiny precision flying creatures glitter like jewels in the full sun then vanish with a zip toward the next nectar source. Alexandri between the 97 th and 98 th meridians tbba data and in comanche and stephens counties. First arrivals in the spring usually males are back in texas and louisiana in late february to mid march.

They are the most common in the united states especially in the eastern half. Feeders and flower gardens are great ways to attract these birds and some people turn their yards into buzzing clouds of hummingbirds each summer. In the western united states one will often find anna s black chinned calliope broad tailed allen s white eared and rufous hummingbirds. North and south of austin is a migration path only but to the east is also a breeding range for these hummers.

The map below shows the approximate spring migration arrival dates for ruby throated hummingbirds in north america. Ruby throated hummingbirds are extremely territorial. These hummingbirds have a very strict routine often returning to the same area each and every year.