🐦 Tiny Birds, Long Flight: The Epic Journey of Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds
Each September, as the goldenrod blooms and the air turns crisp in Massachusetts, a remarkable migration begins. Tiny travelers—ruby-throated hummingbirds—embark on a journey that defies their delicate size. These winged wonders give new meaning to the term “snow birds,” trading New England’s cooling skies for the tropical warmth of Central America. Some will winter as far south as Costa Rica, a feat that’s nothing short of astonishing.
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How Tiny are they?
How tiny are they? Picture a penny. Now imagine that coin sprouting iridescent feathers and a heart that beats over 1,200 times per minute. Ruby-throated hummingbirds weigh about the same—just 2.5 to 3 grams. Yet these miniature marvels fly nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico, a 500-mile stretch of open water, fueled by nectar, grit, and instinct.
photo credit Deb Neumann
At Home in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sees only one species of hummingbird regularly: the ruby-throated hummingbird. Males flash their namesake throat patch like a gemstone in flight, while females sport subtler hues. They arrive in spring, zipping through gardens and feeders, hovering like tiny helicopters. By mid-September, they vanish almost as suddenly as they appeared, riding tailwinds southward in a solo migration that spans thousands of miles.
Wave Bye Bye
Their departure is bittersweet. We miss their aerial acrobatics and the whir of wings that sound like summer itself. But their journey reminds us that even the smallest creatures carry immense strength—and that nature’s rhythms are worth pausing for.
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So if you spot a hummingbird this fall, take a moment. Wish it well on its long flight. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll return next spring to hover once more outside your window, a flash of color and courage in miniature form.
I still have hummingbirds here as of yesterday. I sit on the deck and watch them chase each other around. There are several coming here all day long. I know that they are fueling to leave very soon. I can get up some day and not see any humming birds until next year. Usually they are all gone by the early October. Some times they leave by the end of September. They are a very entertaining little birds. I just hope that they all find their way south safely and back here next year.
I thought of you are I was writing this post. After all the hummingbird picture I took was taken at your house.
Yes I remember that. I also had humming birds here this morning. They have been very entertaining this year. Soon they well all be gone until next year.
Have a good day.
Its that change of seasons thing again. You’ll miss the hummingbirds but you’ll get chickadees instead.