Hummingbirds are vibrant birds in Kansas. These tiny creatures, known for their rapid wing beats and hovering flight, exhibit an incredible metabolism that fuels their active lives. Their presence in Kansas is seasonal, part of an extensive migratory journey.
The Departure Window
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, common in Kansas, typically begins its southward migration in late summer, continuing into early fall. Males tend to leave first, sometimes as early as mid-July, after breeding and nesting activities conclude. Females and younger birds follow a few weeks later, generally throughout August and September. By October, or with the first hard frost, most hummingbirds have completed their migration. The peak departure period is generally September.
Environmental Cues for Migration
The primary environmental signal triggering hummingbird migration is the changing photoperiod, or the shortening of daylight hours. As summer progresses into fall, the decreasing duration of daylight cues a hormonal response in the birds, prompting them to prepare for their long journey. While cooler temperatures and a natural reduction in food sources, such as nectar from blooming flowers and insects, also play a role, these factors tend to fine-tune the migration timing rather than initiate it. Hummingbirds instinctively respond to these seasonal shifts, recognizing the need to move to warmer climates where food resources remain abundant throughout the winter months.
The Long Journey South
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds undertake an impressive migration from Kansas, traveling to warmer wintering grounds primarily in Mexico and Central America. This journey can span hundreds or even thousands of miles, a remarkable feat for a bird weighing less than a quarter of an ounce. A significant challenge for many is the non-stop flight across the Gulf of Mexico, which can take 18 to 22 hours to complete. Some birds may opt for an overland route, following the coastline, which allows for stops to rest and refuel. Regardless of the path chosen, this migration is an arduous undertaking, driven by an innate instinct to reach their winter habitats.
Supporting Hummingbirds Before They Leave
Individuals can assist hummingbirds as they prepare for their demanding migration by maintaining feeders with fresh nectar well into the fall. Keeping feeders clean and filled provides a crucial energy source for late migrants or those passing through Kansas from farther north. It is also beneficial to cultivate late-blooming, nectar-rich flowers in gardens. Concerns that leaving feeders up might prevent hummingbirds from migrating are unfounded, as their departure is primarily governed by instinctual responses to environmental cues like changing daylight, not by food availability. Providing these supplemental resources simply offers a valuable boost for these tiny, resilient travelers.