It’s a joy to observe tiny, jewel-like hummingbirds zip around our flower gardens, whether they’re visiting their favorite flowers or our sugar-water feeders. But as you watch them perform their dazzling feats of acrobatics, you may wonder if these are the same birds who visited your garden last year.
Most people know that hummingbirds are incredible fliers, capable of migrating thousands of miles.
“Though no one completely knows exactly how they navigate, there is evidence that they use cues from the sun, stars, landmarks, and possibly the earth’s gravitational field,” says Rebekah Rylander, science coordinator for the Rio Grande Joint Venture at American Bird Conservancy.
To figure out whether the birds return to the same locations, research biologists use registered, numbered aluminum bands on their legs.
“This noninvasive leg band, fitting much like an anklet on a human, allows individuals to be distinguished from other hummingbirds,” says Rylander. “When these marked individuals are recaptured again, data is collected about the bird’s age and health and whether it has moved from its original capture location.”
Here’s what researchers have learned:
Yes, Hummingbirds Can Return to the Same Gardens Every Year
It may seem incredible for such tiny birds, but they’re experts at getting where they need to go.
“Not only can they migrate hundreds of miles between North and South America without stopping, like ruby-throated hummingbirds do over the Gulf, they can return to the same breeding and wintering grounds year after year,” says Rylander. Research has found that hummingbirds use the same migration routes and stopover sites for refueling in between the breeding and nonbreeding season.
But several factors may impact a hummer’s return to your garden. “For example, a strong storm or prolonged bad weather can affect the route of migration or food availability,” says Holly Grant, project assistant for NestWatch at Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. “Cold and rainy springs might mean less insects or a delay in flowers blooming, so that can cause hummingbirds to search for better food resources elsewhere until the local conditions improve.”
Changes in habitat also affect where birds spend their time. “Ruby-throated hummingbirds nest in tree and forests,” says Grant. “If the forest in your community was recently clear-cut for development or other reasons, that will discourage forest birds from the area.”
They Remember Where Feeders Are, Too
Just like you might revisit your favorite restaurant when you travel, hummingbirds often do the same! Based on recapture records, it is evident that the same hummingbirds can return to the same breeding grounds each year, even returning to the same feeders, says Rylander.
As examples, one banded female black-chinned hummingbird returned to the same yard and feeders for 10 years along the Texas coast, and several banded female rufous hummingbirds have been documented returning for nine years in a row to the same feeders along the Gulf Coast, says Rylander.
But don’t worry if you’re not around to make sure feeders are ready for them. “Food sources change pretty quickly over the course of a summer. Flowers don’t bloom for weeks on end, seeds are only available at certain times, and so on, so birds generally are used to constantly searching for that next source of food,” says Grant. “A feeder can provide a reliable source of food, but it’s supplemental to all the different sources a single bird may be checking or using.”
Feeders also can assist hummingbird survival during extreme weather events, such as hurricanes or droughts. But most of the time, hummingbirds find natural food. “They have evolved millions of years without human feeders, and most of their diet comes from tiny insects that provide them with protein,” says Rylander.
Here’s How to Support Hummingbirds in Your Garden to Keep Them Coming Back
You can support hummers in your backyard—and perhaps encourage them to return next year!—by making them feel welcome. Here’s how:
Set up feeders.
It’s not necessary to buy nectar; make a four parts water to one part sugar ratio. Store any excess in your fridge and change it regularly. Don’t use fancy or organic sugars or honey; regular table sugar is best. Also, don’t add dyes to the water; red plastic parts on the feeder or a red ribbon is enough to attract them, says Grant.
Hang up more than one feeder.
“Because hummingbirds will defend feeders, placing more than one in your yard can sometimes increase the number of hummingbirds you will see, but it all depends upon how many hummingbirds are actually passing through your area,” says Rylander. It’s your preference if you would rather maintain one feeder or two—or ten! However, it does not necessarily help the hummingbirds, who are champs at finding food.
Clean feeders regularly.
“Sugar readily grows mold and bacteria, so we generally recommend cleaning them once every three to five days, but more often when it’s hotter,” says Grant.
Plant flowers with different bloom times.
“Native plants are a huge help,” says Grant. “Those with red, tubular flowers attract them best, but they’ll come to other flowers too. Cardinal flower, bee balm, trumpet vine, and jewelweed are great places to start.”
Treat windows to prevent collisions.
Birds can’t perceive glass, and window collisions are a leading cause of death for them. Try DIY or commercial products to make windows visible to help prevent collisions.
Keep cats indoors.
Outdoor cats, which are the leading cause of bird mortality in North America, are deadly to birds. You can protect all species of birds by keeping your pet indoors.
Reduce the use of pesticides.
Birds rely on insects for food, especially when raising young. Reducing the chemicals you use helps all your backyard wildlife, including birds and beneficial insects.
