Keep Your Eyes Peeled, Thousands of Hummingbirds Are Headed Right for Illinois During Their Migration This Spring

This year's most glorious migration is already underway and it's something you won't want to miss. Springtime in Illinois is a real treat. This spring, thousands of hummingbirds are headed our way, and it's one of the most magical things you'll ever see this year. Seriously, thousands…can you believe that? To prepare you'll want to make sure you have your camera ready and your best hummingbird feeders set up. If you find yourself asking, "When do hummingbirds come back to Illinois? Or when to leave out hummingbird feeders in Illinois?”- we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn more about this incredible springtime phenomenon.

The season is upon us to put out hummingbird feeders full of sugar water to attract some of the most incredible birds of the season. Spring is certainly the best time to see hummingbirds in Illinois.

Fun Fact: Hummingbirds weigh approximately 2.5 grams, which is about the weight of a penny. These pint-size creatures are one of the smallest birds on the planet and they fly extremely fast. They can also fly for very long distances without rest, hummingbirds can in fact fly up to 1,300 miles in one stretch.

These tiny-but-tough little birds spend the winter in South and Central America, before beginning their great migration north in late February. In recent years, hummingbirds have been migrating to the United States even earlier or in some cases staying year-round due to the overall warming of the climate. Weather and food availability are the two factors that dictate hummingbird migration patterns.

Most paths of this hummingbird migration are traced through Texas and the Deep South, where the birds will breed on their way to the northern part of the country. Hummingbirds migrate by day when nectar is available, and they are known to expend a great deal of energy during this time.

Hummingbirds flap their wings 50 to 80 times per second, and their hearts beat 1,200 beats per minute -- and they work up quite an appetite! As you can imagine, they need a lot of food to fuel these laborious migrations.

If you're wondering when to leave out hummingbird feeders in Illinois, during the first couple of weeks of April is the perfect time to start setting up your feeder and putting out sugar water for these beautiful creatures, as they begin their migratory return -- especially if you did so last year.

Hummingbirds are creatures of habit, and it's believed that these birds will return to the same feeders, year after year. In fact, some scientists even believe that these smart birds will also stop at the same feeders along the same route on the same day, year after year. Fascinating, right? You could have lifelong bird friends who have been stopping at your feeders for years and you didn't even know it!

When do hummingbirds leave to Illinois from Mexico? The hummingbirds are expected to arrive in Illinois around the fourth week of April. Soon hummingbirds in Illinois will light up the sky with bright, beautiful colors. Experts recommend putting out your feeder two weeks before their arrival, in case they are ahead of schedule. (They love red, by the way.)

Set up a feeder, and delight as these beautiful creatures arrive in The Land of Lincoln. It's the very best way to usher in springtime in Illinois. Add sugar water to your feeder but don't put any dyes in the water. Even though bright colors do attract the birds, it's best to stick as close to their natural food sources as possible. Planting tubular flowers is another great way to attract these beauties.

If you were asking yourself, "When do hummingbirds come back to Illinois?", now you know! Are you prepared for this year's hummingbird migration? Did you put out a feeder last year? If not, now is the time to start preparing for their arrival. Give the hummingbirds a warm Illinois welcome this spring!

As you prepare to welcome a new season in The Land of Lincoln, you'll definitely want to check out these places in Illinois that completely transform when spring arrives.