Did you know Michigan only has one truly native hummingbird species? That’s right, only the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) calls Michigan part of its native territory. In fact, this is the U.S. and Canada’s only established breeding hummingbird species east of the Rocky Mountains! Like other hummingbird species, they are strongly dimorphic, with males sporting more colorful plumage that includes an iridescent red throat patch called a gorget. Read on to find out when these little flying jewels arrive in and leave the state, where they go, and what other species may pass through from time to time for a visit.
When Do Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Arrive in Michigan?
Putting up a hummingbird feeder during spring migration season is a great way to coax ruby-throated hummingbirds to stay in Michigan and breed!
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Ruby-throated hummingbirds are not year-round residents of Michigan. Rather, they arrive during the annual spring migration season. While many are just passing through as they migrate as far north as southern Canada, others will stick around and make Michigan their home for the breeding season. Males usually arrive first to claim breeding territories as early as mid-April. Females will then begin arriving soon after to choose mates and nest. If you want to entice these migrating hummingbirds into making your home theirs for the season, you can attract them by planting their favorite nectar flowers and putting up nectar feeders!
When Do Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Leave Michigan?
Once these ruby-throated hummingbirds have fledged, both they will join their parents in migrating south for the winter.
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After breeding and raising their young through the summer, ruby-throated hummingbirds will reverse their path during the fall migration season. During this time, birds who stayed to breed (and their young!) will join up with others journeying back down from further north. Adult males usually begin departing first in late August, with most hummingbirds gone from the state by the end of September.
Where Do Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Go After Leaving Michigan?
This map illustrates the range of the ruby-throated hummingbird. Orange represents its breeding range, yellow its extended migration range, and blue its overwintering range.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate south to overwintering grounds in Florida, Mexico, and Central America. While those further west may continue on an overland route, most passing through Michigan will make an amazing journey across the Gulf of Mexico in a single super-powered nonstop flight!
Do Other Hummingbirds Visit Michigan Too?
While the ruby-throated hummingbird is Michigan’s only official native species, other species from western and southern North America and Central America occasionally pop up in the state as “vagrants.” These are individuals from species whose natural ranges aren’t normally in the state but who somehow turn up anyway. They may have been blown in by storms, gotten thrown off course during migration, hitchhiked on vehicles or cargo, or otherwise just managed to break new ground for their species! At least seven such vagrant species have been recorded in Michigan in recent decades.
1. Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
The male rufous hummingbird distinguishes itself from the ruby-throated hummingbird by its brilliant orange coloration.
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While this hummingbird species is native to western North America, it appears as a vagrant east of the Rockies more frequently than any of the other western species. It is not uncommon for them to occasionally disperse into the Great Lakes region, including Michigan. They will most likely turn up as a special visitor to the state from autumn migration season into early winter.
2. Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris)
The male broad-billed hummingbird is identified by its distinctive red bill and metallic blue-green iridescence.
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This species, native to Mexico and the Southwestern U.S., is a much rarer western visitor to Michigan. The state has to date only recorded it a few times, most recently in June 2022.
3. Mexican Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)
This male Mexican Violetear shows off the glittering purple patch that gives the species its name.
This very rare visitor to Michigan is native to Mexico and Central America. It has been spotted a handful of times in the state, but not since September 2014.
4. Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae)
The male Costa’s hummingbird stands out with its vibrant violet head.
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This super rare visitor to Michigan is native to the Southwestern U.S. and western Mexico. It has only ever been recorded once in the state, back in October and November 2014.
5. Berylline Hummingbird (Saucerottia beryllina)
The berylline hummingbird is one of the hummingbirds known as the emeralds, but is named for a different green gemstone, beryl.
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This hummingbird is one of the “emeralds” (tribe Trochilini) native to Central America, Mexico, and a small portion of the Southwestern U.S. It is an exceptionally rare visitor to Michigan, recorded just once back in September 2014.
6. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypta anna)
The male Anna’s hummingbird sets itself apart from the other similarly-colored species with an iridescent reddish-pink cap to match its scarf.
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This is another extraordinarily rare western visitor to Michigan. To date, it has only ever been spotted in the state back in October through December 2010.
7. White-Eared Hummingbird (Basilinna leucotis)
This male white-eared hummingbird displays the white blaze behind its eye that gives the species its name.
©Gerardo Aguilar Anzures/Shutterstock.com
This is Michigan’s rarest-ever hummingbird sighting. Like the berylline hummingbird, this species from the emerald tribe is native to Central America, Mexico, and a small portion of the Southwest U.S. It was only ever spotted in the state as a vagrant way back in August 2005.
Conclusion
The ruby-throated hummingbird is Michigan’s only truly native hummingbird species. This migratory species will arrive in the state during the spring, usually starting in mid-April. While some will continue further north, others will stay in the state to breed and raise families. They will leave again for autumn migration beginning in late August through September, making their way south to their overwintering grounds. There are also at least seven other hummingbird species that, while not native to the state, have been recorded as rare visitors. If you want to make whatever hummingbirds show up in your area feel welcome, make sure to provide them with a hummingbird-friendly habitat!
