Gardening Actions:

Create a place for wildlife
Make your yard a refuge for migratory birds.

Stop migratory birds from hitting your windows
Thousands of birds die each year on their migrations when hitting residential and commercial windows.

Create a haven for hummingbirds
Attract these tiny and colorful migrating birds.

Safe birdfeeding tips
The best food for birds comes from native plants, but if you offer feeders, here are some important tips.

Purchasing Actions:

Join NWF and help migratory birds
Your tax-deductible donation supports NWF's work to protect migratory birds and other imperiled wildlife. We'll acknowledge your gift with a complimentary plush animal. Thank you.

Buy bird-friendly coffee
Many birds spend the winter in South America. Help protect their homes from coffee growers. Purchasing this coffee also supports NWF.

Migration Distance
Total distance unknown, but the trip across the Gulf of Mexico is between 500-600 miles long

Migration Route and Stopover Sites
Ruby-throated hummingbirds have the longest migration route of all the hummingbirds. The ruby-throated hummingbird is only found in the eastern United States and Canada. Many migrate around the Gulf of Mexico, through Texas and northern Mexico to winter in Central America. Others will fly from Florida across the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula. While most ruby-throated hummingbirds winter in Central America, some have been observed as far south as Panama.

Migration Speed
30 miles per hour is the normal flying speed

Migration Hazards
Long over-ocean migration accounts for many deaths.

Bird Size
3.5 inches in length

Threats
Habitat loss due to agricultural growth especially in its wintering range in the tropics

Interesting Facts
The ruby-throated hummingbird's nest is no bigger than a ping pong ball and its eggs are about the size of jelly beans.

The ruby-throated hummingbird weighs 0.1 ounce. Before making their journeys, they double their weight for the long flights.

Send an e-card Invite your friend to come learn about this amazing bird.