Hummingbirds Return To Southern New England

By Eric Fisher, CBS Boston

April 18, 2024

BOSTON - There are all sorts of signs of spring. The Red Sox home opener, the Boston Marathon, the first cherry trees bursting into color. But perhaps the first sign of impending summer is the return of New England's smallest breeding bird - the hummingbird.

One of the first to leave in the fall, and last to come back in the spring! In that regard, maybe they're the smartest birds, too! The first ones have just been reported back across southern New England by local birdwatchers.

2024 hummingbird migration map/CBS Boston

Many migrating birds undergo vast annual voyages. And though the ruby-throated hummingbird isn't quite as adventurous as our osprey (which travel all the way to South America before returning), you can't blame them. It takes a lot of aggressive flapping to cover all that distance! Those wings can beat about 53 times every second. The ruby-throated hummingbird uses them to head south in late August to September and return in late April to early May.

Click here for the full story via CBS Boston

CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.