While colder weather and even snow are in this week’s forecast, spring is nearly here and hummingbirds are steadily trekking north toward Michigan.
The tiny birds should be in Michigan by mid- to late spring, particularly ruby-throated hummingbirds, a prevalent local species. As hummingbirds follow their spring migration path northward, you can follow along with a digital migration map.
Hummingbird Central’s interactive 2026 Hummingbird Spring Migration Map shows ruby-throated hummingbirds currently in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
Once warmer days settle, consider preparing for hummingbirds’ arrival by setting out well-placed feeders filled with nectar to tide over early arrivals until flowers bloom.
Hummingbirds aren’t the only birds in flight this spring. Birdcast, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, produces maps showing how many birds are in flight each night and predicts where traffic will be heaviest. Support for this research comes, in part, from Leon Levy Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, NASA, Edward W. Rose Postdoctoral Fellowship, and Amazon Web Services.
At least 25 million birds are expected to be in flight Tuesday night, March 10.
Here’s what to know as hummingbirds migrate north.
When do hummingbirds come back to Michigan?
Hummingbirds are expected to begin returning to Michigan by later this spring, migrating north from their winter habitats in Central America and Mexico, according to Hummingbird Central.
How can you track hummingbird migration?
You can track hummingbird migration north this season with Hummingbird Central’s 2026 Hummingbird Spring Migration Map, updated through March 9. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have been spotted in Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina flying north, seen as far north as the Atlanta area.
What are hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds are tiny birds with long bills and small wings, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute said. Hummingbirds have various colored feathers, with male birds typically featuring brighter colors.
A common species in Michigan is the ruby-throated hummingbird, which features bright, green back, a red throat and white chest.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Are hummingbirds heading north? When to expect them in Michigan
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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