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You are here: Home / Hummingbird Behavior / Hummingbird Migration

Hummingbird Migration

The hummingbird migration through the western United States takes place each year. This post shows the southward migration, back toward Mexico and Central America.

Picture of 9 hummingbirds around a large hummingbird feeder during hummingbird migration.
Hummingbirds feeding during migration

Here’s a swarm of mostly Rufous Hummingbirds at Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area near Eager, Arizona. There were many more hummingbird feeders and many, many more birds at Sipe this late July 2014.

Video of hummingbird swarm during migration

The Rufous Hummingbird migrates from Mexico to northern parts of the U.S., including Alaska, and into Canada, then back. They need a lot of fuel for this long flight, and they are willing to challenge each other to get it.

Though you can see mostly Rufous in this video, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds were also abundant at the feeders, in the bushes and trees. The males were easy to see and easier to hear. I saw a few Calliope Hummingbirds among the crowds at the feeders and even a skittish male Black-chinned Hummingbird on the periphery.

Picture of a male Rufous Hummingbird hovering in flight
Male Rufous Hummingbird
Picture of a male Rufous Hummingbird perched on a feeder
Male Rufous Hummingbird on feeder

I came up to Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area looking for the Rufous Hummingbird. We had seen many immature/female Rufous Hummingbirds and Anna’s Hummingbirds this summer in Washington, Oregon and California.  But no clear view of an adult male Rufous. Finally, timing was right. Here were the male Rufous Hummingbirds, in the midst of the hummingbird migration.

Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area
Picture of Sipe Wildlife Area visitor center
Sipe Wildlife Area visitor center

Western hummingbirds migrate along the eastern side of Arizona in late July through August on their way down into Mexico.  Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area is on the eastern edge of the state, near Eager and Alpine.

Picture of Sipe Wildlife Area visitor center entrance
Entrance to the Sipe Wildlife Area visitor center

It is a beautiful destination. Sipe does not show up on Google maps as of this post, so look at the text in Arizona Game and Fish online brochure here to find it.

Entrance is free, though donations toward sugar water are appreciated. A well maintained dirt road leads to the visitor center, which has friendly and knowledgable staff and regular hours. Since July/August is monsoon season, we check the weather and the current hours before we go.

Check out our hummingbird blog or return home.

Filed Under: Hummingbird Behavior, Hummingbird Pictures

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