New Hummingbird Migration Map Reveals When These Ethereal Creatures Will Reach Your Yard

The hummingbird migration across the US is underway, and a new interactive map could help you find out when these charming creatures are expected to pass through your area. Created by smart bird feeder company Birdfy, the map tracks migration routes across different states, so you can follow their epic journey.

With hummingbirds relying on resource-rich gardens for a rest stop during their migration, the Birdfy Hummingbird Migration Map is designed to help backyard birdwatchers know exactly when to keep feeders filled for their arrival. You can even explore migration routes of specific hummingbird species to find out which ones have been spotted in your local area.

It's a useful new tool to use alongside a smart bird feeder camera (you can explore Birdfy's range of smart feeders on Amazon), which capture the fleeting visits. Birdfy says any garden that welcomes hummingbirds plays a crucial part in their migration journey.

Track When Hummingbirds Arrive in Your Yard

August and September are when hummingbirds typically start to migrate south for winter. On this long journey (up to 4,000 miles) they stop in resource-rich backyards, seeking some respite and to refuel (even a simple glass hummingbird feeder from Amazon helps).

'With our migration map, we want to help people see the bigger story behind each visit – and realize that their own backyard can be a meaningful stop along the way,' says Allen Chen, Founder and CEO of Birdfy.

According to Birdfy, when a migrating hummingbird visits a feeder or garden along its route, that backyard becomes a stopover on its journey – and the person welcoming it becomes a so-called stopover host. The company says it is a simple shift in perspective that turns a fleeting backyard encounter into a small but meaningful part of a much bigger migration story.

The map allows homeowners to keep track of the hummingbirds that have been spotted near them, so they know when they can expect visitors in their own yard. The function to search by month and hummingbird species offers more specific insight.

As you toggle to timeline, the migration routes are revealed, showing how the likes of ruby-throated hummingbirds, rufous hummingbirds, and costa's hummingbirds have been moving through the country.

Get Ready for Their Visit

There are plenty of things you can do to attract hummingbirds to your yard and get your outdoor space ready for their arrival.

This includes installing a smart feeder (like the Birdfy Hum Feeder available on Amazon), which will allow you to capture footage of their visit. This Walmart smart hummingbird feeder is also a good choice, with multiple feeding porches to accommodate more birds.

You can also opt for standard glass hummingbird feeders (like this red one from Wayfair).

As for providing water, hummingbirds prefer a mist to a bird bath so it can be beneficial to place a solar fountain pump (like this from Walmart) in your bird bath.

Take care to keep both water and food sources clean. It's important to clean hummingbird feeders regularly to prevent the nectar spoiling and keep these birds safe.

You can also add some flowers for hummingbirds to your garden to provide nectar-rich natural food sources. Mexican bush sage for hummingbirds is a great late-season choice.

Or, pick up this pack of hummingbird wildflower seeds from Burpee to get ahead for next year.

Shop Our Hummingbird Edit

You can also prepare for hummingbirds by doing some research around the best time of day to see hummingbirds. Early morning is typically when they're most active, as they go on search for food to re-energize – this is where investing in a bird feeder camera is handy, capturing these moments for you.

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