Hummingbirds, the smallest birds on Earth, possess a unique flight ability that allows them to hover, fly backward, and navigate incredible distances. Their annual migration is one of the most astonishing endurance feats in the natural world. These tiny fliers move between their northern breeding grounds in North America and their warmer wintering habitats in Central America and Mexico. The wonder of how a creature weighing less than a dime accomplishes this journey has led to many fascinating speculations over time.
Do Hummingbirds Hitch Rides?
The definitive answer to this long-standing question is no; hummingbirds do not migrate on the backs of larger birds. This persistent concept, often centered on species like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and the Canada Goose, is a popular urban myth. The origin of the tale likely stems from the seemingly impossible distance these tiny birds must travel, leading people to assume they must have assistance.
The biological and logistical realities of migration make such a partnership highly implausible. Large birds like geese typically migrate at much higher altitudes, sometimes soaring at 20,000 feet or more, an altitude where a hummingbird could not function. Furthermore, the migration timing and routes of these different bird groups do not align. Most migratory geese stop their southward journey well north of the tropical destinations where hummingbirds spend the winter.
Fueling Up for the Migration
The true secret to a hummingbird’s migration success lies in its physiological preparation, which begins weeks before departure. This preparation involves a period of intense, rapid eating known as hyperphagia. During this feeding frenzy, the birds consume massive amounts of nectar and tiny insects, often eating their own body weight in food every day.
The goal of this aggressive eating is to rapidly accumulate fat reserves, which serve as the sole fuel source for the long flight. A hummingbird may nearly double its body weight, adding up to two grams of fat. This stored energy is a specific type of yellow fat that is rich in energy, providing more than twice the power per gram compared to burning protein or carbohydrates. The fat metabolism also produces twice as much water, which provides a level of protection against dehydration during the marathon flight.
Environmental cues, specifically the shortening of daylight hours in late summer, trigger this instinctive need to prepare. This stored fat is so efficient that ornithologists estimate it provides enough energy for a typical hummingbird to fly nearly 600 miles non-stop. The birds will continue to gorge until their instincts tell them they have enough fat to attempt the journey.
The Actual Mechanics of the Journey
The journey itself is a solitary and demanding effort powered entirely by the bird’s own wings. Many Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, for instance, undertake the non-stop crossing of the Gulf of Mexico. This formidable span of open water is approximately 500 miles wide and requires a continuous flight of 18 to 22 hours.
The birds maintain a high-intensity pace throughout this flight, with their hearts beating up to 1,260 times per minute. Their wings beat at an astonishing rate of up to 80 times per second to sustain their forward momentum. Although the Gulf crossing is the most direct route, some birds follow the coastline of Texas and Mexico, which is a longer journey but offers more opportunities for rest and refueling.
Hummingbirds are equipped with sophisticated internal mechanisms for navigation to complete these vast trips. They rely on an internal navigation system that uses the position of the sun and stars, along with the Earth’s magnetic field, to stay on course. This electromagnetic sensitivity allows them to compensate and find their way even when strong winds or storms push them off their intended route.