# Hummingbird Migration

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-migration/404338>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 16, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-migration/404338 "2007-05-16T17:03:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-migration/404338/1 "2007-05-16T17:03:56Z")

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Yoo hoo, **Colibri** –

Hummingbirds migrate south (Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America) for the winter. Do they follow established migration routes, similar to hawks or Monarch butterflies? IOW, are there particular spots where you can go to watch hummers migrate en masse?

And are the answers to these questions the same for differnt types of hummingbirds? For fall and spring?

TIA.

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**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-migration/404338/2 "2007-05-16T18:11:01Z")

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just getting in on the thread to see what occurs. Good questions. xo, C.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-migration/404338/3 "2007-05-16T18:24:30Z")

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Here’s some information on [hummingbird migration](http://www.hummingbirdworld.com/h/migrate.htm#by-species) for different species. There are also links to migration routes for Ruby-throats and Rufous hummers.

Some species have particular routes, for example the Ruby-throat around the Gulf of Mexico, where you are probably likely to see individuals more frequently during migration. However, hummers don’t really migrate in flocks like hawks or Monarchs do, so the migration is much less noticeable.

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-migration/404338/4 "2007-05-16T19:28:00Z")

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[QUOTE=Colibri]  
However, hummers don’t really migrate in flocks like hawks or Monarchs do, so the migration is much less noticeable.  
[/QUOTE]

So it’s more about behavior while migrating, rather than the routes per se? Gotcha. (I’d found the migration maps linked in your link, but since they seemed to indicate endpoints rather than routes, I wasn’t sure if I could infer an answer to my question or not.)

Many thanks, sir!

[signed]The President of your Fan Club

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**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-migration/404338/5 "2007-05-16T19:55:14Z")

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If you want to see migrating birds, find the lowest spot in a mountain range (I have no idea what those are called in english. “abra” in spanish). With our without set migration routes, birds tend to prefer those.

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-migration/404338/6 "2007-05-16T20:36:25Z")

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> [@Colibri](#):
>
> However, hummers don’t really migrate in flocks like hawks or Monarchs do

Aw. That would be **really cool** to see!