Here are 11 plants that will attract hummingbirds to your garden
Plan your hummingbird garden with these 11 plants.
Angela Peterson and Lou Saldivar, Wochit
Fall is approaching and the hummingbirds that arrived in Ohio in April and May are preparing for their migration south. For Ohio hummingbirds, the countdown has already begun, meaning they are only a few weeks away from their departure.
Learn when and why hummingbirds migrate.
When will hummingbirds migrate from Ohio?
Hummingbirds typically migrate south in August or September, spending the winter in Central America or Mexico. They are expected to return to Ohio in spring 2025, likely during the same period as April and May this year.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are known to fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single nonstop flight during their migration.
Hummingbirds are considered the smallest birds in the world and are also long-distance travelers. The ruby-throated hummingbird, commonly seen in Ohio, can fly up to 60 mph, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Hummingbirds have the longest overwater flight of any hummingbird, flying 500 to 600 miles nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico, the Hattiesburg-American reported.
Hummingbird Central tracks hummingbird migratory activity, monitored using sighting reports from birdwatchers. The 2024 interactive migration map shows sightings of wintering and year-round hummingbirds.
Why do hummingbirds migrate?
According to Hummingbird Central, changes in daylight and decreasing food sources such as flowers, nectar and insects may contribute to hummingbirds deciding to migrate south. Cooler weather conditions also trigger their migration.
Not all hummingbirds migrate south in the winter. Some hummingbirds in California and on the Pacific coast, such as the Anna’s hummingbird, stay year-round.
Should I remove my hummingbird feeder during migration?
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said that while sugar water feeders can be set up as early as mid-April, most hummingbirds have already left Ohio by early September. Hummingbirds may still be on their migration journey as late as mid-October. “Hummingbird feeders do not deter hummingbirds from migrating in the fall,” the website states.
