Spring is nearly here in Michigan, and in just a few months, hummingbirds will be flitting about the state, drinking nectar.
The tiny birds are beginning their annual spring migration, flying northward slowly from their winter abodes in Central America and Mexico. Hummingbirds typically arrive in Michigan by mid-to-late spring, with ruby-throated hummingbirds a common species in the state.
Hummingbird Central’s 2026 Hummingbird Spring Migration Map shows ruby-throated hummingbirds currently in Florida, Louisiana and Texas, according to the interactive map.
If you’re looking to welcome the birds to your yard or garden this spring, a well-placed hummingbird feeder filled with nectar, a key source of nourishment, can be a great option.
Keep an eye on the digital map to follow hummingbirds’ flight path north.
Here’s what to know about hummingbirds’ migration north.
When will hummingbirds return to Michigan?
Hummingbirds are expected to start arriving in Michigan later this spring, following their typical migration path northward.
The birds spend winters in Central American and Mexico, Hummingbird Central noted.
How can you prepare for the arrival of hummingbirds?
Consider setting out a hummingbird feeder by early April, BirdWatching recommends, to welcome the birds back north. Filled with nectar, a well-placed feeder can attract hummingbirds to your yard or garden this spring.
How can you track hummingbird migration?
You can track hummingbird migration north this season with Hummingbird Central’s 2026 Hummingbird Spring Migration Map, updated as of Feb. 23. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have been spotted in Florida, Louisiana and Texas flying north, per the map.
When is hummingbird migration season?
Hummingbirds typically migrate north in the late winter and spring after spending their winters in parts of Central America or Mexico, Hummingbird Central said.
Migration is influenced by factors like weather, sunlight patterns, plant and insect population changes and hummingbirds’ behavioral instincts and internal clock, per N.C. Cooperative Extension, a collaboration between North Carolina State University, N.C. AT&T State University, and federal, state and local governments.
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: Hummingbirds fly north. When will they return to Michigan?
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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