When Will Hummingbirds Arrive In Rhode Island?

RHODE ISLAND — The hummingbird season will start soon in Rhode Island as tiny, energetic birds make their way north.

During migration from their winter homes in Central and South America, a hummingbird’s heart beats up to 1,260 times a minute, and its wings flap 15 to 80 times a second, according to Hummingbird Central, which maintains an interactive map of long flights from their winter homes in Mexico and Central America to their breeding ground in North America.

According to that map, which is based on reports from hummingbird enthusiasts across the country, ruby throated hummingbirds have made their way to New Jersey and will soon reach Rhode Island.

These diminutive, vibrantly colored birds with an ability to hover and fly in various directions are captivating even for non-bird lovers. They are seen as symbols of joy, happiness and good fortune.

To support their high-energy flight over land and water, hummingbirds typically gain from 25 percent to 40 percent of their body weight during their winter rest period.

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Hummingbirds migrate during the daylight hours, when nectar sources such as flowering plants are in full bloom. They fly at a low altitude, which allows them to quickly dip down and drink nectar as they encounter food sources. They’re also experts at using tailwinds to their advantage, which allows them to expend less energy, according to Hummingbird Central

Hummingbirds can travel as far as 23 miles a day, but can travel about 500 miles in a single flight as they cross the Gulf of Mexico, moving at about 20 to 30 miles per hour — “and up to three times that fast during their courtship dives,” according to Hummingbird Central.

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Males usually arrive ahead of females in the northward migration. In areas such as the Pacific Coast, the southern U.S. and the Southeast, not all hummingbirds migrate, the site said.

If you want to give hummingbirds an assist, consider installing hummingbird feeders — but if you do this, commit to cleaning the feeders at least every other day to prevent deadly mold growth, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo.

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Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, but instead of using red dye, which some studies suggest can be harmful to hummingbirds’ small bodies, consider a red feeder. Here’s the National Zoo’s recipe:

• Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water (for example, 1 cup of sugar with 4 cups of water) until the sugar is dissolved
• Fill your hummingbird feeders with the sugar water and place outside
• Extra sugar water can be stored in a refrigerator
• Change feeders every other day and thoroughly clean them each time to prevent harmful mold growth

People with the lawn space to do it can attract hummingbirds by planting bright red or orange tubular-shaped blooms, such as honeysuckle or trumpeter creeper, according to Birds & Blooms. The National Audubon Society recommends eastern red columbine, bee balms, sages and some common species of milkweed.

The map below shows where hummingbirds have been sighted across the country. If you’ve seen a hummingbird, you can report the sighting to Hummingbird Central.

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