Marietta Daisies Garden Club

Hummingbirds Migration

For many of them, Southern gardens and backyards provide the first welcome stop along the way.

As winter begins to loosen its hold across the South,

one of spring’s smallest travelers starts to return.

Hummingbirds, migrating from their winter homes in Mexico,

Central America, and the Caribbean, are already moving northward.

Gulf Coast Arrivals Lead the Way

Throughout the eastern Southern states, the familiar herald of spring is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Along the Gulf Coast—including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida—these tiny migrants often begin appearing in early March. In some coastal areas of Texas and Florida, a few hummingbirds may even remain through the winter, supported by mild weather and dependable backyard feeders.

While Gulf Coast gardens may already be alive with the soft whir of wings in March, inland towns and mountain valleys often wait a few more weeks for that first bright flash of ruby at the feeder. By late March and early April, hummingbirds spread inland through Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, continuing north in steady waves of spring migration.

A 500-Mile Gamble Across Open Water

Migration timing is anything but random. Male hummingbirds typically arrive first—sometimes a week or more ahead of the females—racing north to claim the best feeding territories.

For many, the journey includes a remarkable gamble: crossing the Gulf of Mexico in a single, nonstop flight. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird may travel nearly 500 miles over open water, flying for up to 18 hours without rest. During that crossing, the bird burns through much of the fat reserves it stored before departure—sometimes nearly half its body weight—simply to survive the trip.

Because of this extraordinary effort, the first gardens and feeders along the Gulf Coast become vital refueling stations each spring. Early-blooming flowers and backyard nectar feeders can provide the quick energy these exhausted travelers need to recover and continue their journey north.

How Southern Gardeners Can Help

In the deeper Southeast, especially in coastal areas from Cape Hatteras through Florida and along the Gulf Coast hummingbirds are increasingly present outside the traditional migration window. In these regions, feeders may remain active much of the year. In southern Texas, gardeners sometimes see additional hummingbird species as well, adding even more variety to backyard sightings.

For those wondering when to hang feeders, the rule of thumb across much of the South is simple. Along the Gulf Coast, nectar can be offered by late February or early March. Farther inland, mid- to late March is usually ideal. Setting feeders out early will not cause hummingbirds to migrate sooner, but it can provide lifesaving energy for birds that arrive ahead of schedule.

Natural food sources are just as important. Native plants such as coral honeysuckle, bee balm, cardinal flower, and scarlet sage provide abundant nectar while also supporting the insects and spiders that hummingbirds rely on for protein, especially during nesting season. A garden planted with these species becomes more than a feeding stop; it becomes a lively sanctuary filled with the constant shimmer of hummingbird activity.