While the calendar shows it is only February, over the last week we have received several reports of a variety of different hummingbird species showing up in the Prescott area. Apparently, hummingbirds don’t look at calendars.
While spring is still a month away, the days are getting considerably longer. Right now, day-length is increasing by more than two minutes per day, which definitely plays a role in migration.
Some of our migratory hummingbirds don’t winter too far away. It is likely that some of our early arrivals are birds that spent the winter down in Sun City with all of the other snowbirds. Recent arrivals include Anna’s hummingbirds and we’ve also had reports of black-chinned and rufous hummingbird. Wow!
This weekend, temperatures in Prescott are forecasted to be in the low 60’s. You have to consider, that if it gets up into the 60’s here, temperatures down in the valley are probably pushing close to the 80’s. The combination of longer days, and warmer temperatures are a signal to migratory birds that it is time to get on the move.
Migrating “early” has its risks, and it has its advantages. The risk of coming back early is a late harsh winter storm with heavy snow which could result in an untimely death.
We all know how incredibly territorial hummingbirds are. An unclaimed hummingbird feeder is an open invitation for a hummingbird to stake its claim and seize the opportunity to establish a new territory.
Oftentimes older hummingbirds come back to the same place year after year. We know this because we hear stories every spring of customers, who have not yet put up a feeder, seeing a hummingbird flying around the hook on their eaves where their feeder had hung in previous years.
As tiny as hummingbirds are, they have excellent memories. They will literally come back to the same feeder location they frequented in previous years, sometimes after having been gone for months, and having traveled hundreds, if not thousands, of miles. It is truly remarkable!
However, many of the hummingbirds that were hatched last year need to establish their own territories. If they migrate back earlier than other hummingbirds, they can potentially lay claim to an unguarded feeder.
Here at The Lookout, we are often asked, “When should I put out my hummingbird feeder?” There is no set answer, but the advice I typically give is simple—when you start seeing hummingbirds! However, if you decide to put out a feeder before you start seeing hummingbirds, I can almost guarantee you’ll see hummers very soon.
Interestingly, rufous hummingbirds, which show up in the Prescott area in spring and summer are considered the world’s longest migrator, based on body-length. If you divide the length of the bird, into the distance it migrates, no other species migrates further than rufous hummingbirds, inch for inch. Or should I say quarter inch by quarter inch!
Rufous hummingbirds are only about 3 ¾-inches in length, yet they winter as far south as Central America, and breed as far north as southern Alaska. Quite a feat when you consider they weigh, on average, only 3.4 grams, which is more than the weight of a dime, but less than the weight of a nickel.
Each year, during migration, calliope hummingbirds pass through the Prescott area on their way north in the spring and on their way south in the fall. They weight about 2.7 grams, meaning it would take approximately ten calliope hummingbirds to weight one ounce! This means you could “mail” ten calliope hummingbirds with a single first-class stamp!!
Until next week, Happy Birding!
Eric Moore is the owner of The Lookout, in Prescott, where you will find a Hallmark Gold Crown Store, wild bird products, and Vortex and Swarovski optics. Eric has been an avid birder for over 55 years. Eric can be contacted at eric@thelookoutaz.com.
