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

There is so much that I love about spring in Cleveland. Flowers bloom, birds sing, and people in general (including me) feel friendlier. Springtime also brings another incredible experience to Ohioans: the annual hummingbird migration. In Ohio, the migration of hummingbirds will bring familiar species, like the ruby-throated hummingbird, up north to breed. If you're wondering when hummingbirds will arrive in Cleveland, Ohio, you can usually start to catch them in late April during their annual migration. They'll be easy to spot in quiet yards, especially those with hummingbird feeders, all across the country. Read on to find out more about this natural phenomenon and the best way to spot these bejeweled birds.

Cold, rainy weather may be slowing the migration of the hummingbirds north... but don't worry; they'll be in the Cleveland area in no time.

Traveling by day just above the treetops, hummingbirds are moving from their wintering grounds in Central America and the Southern United States back into the Central, Western, and Northern United States.

The hummingbirds travel to build nests and breed, something that many birds tend to do in the spring. Hummingbirds in Cleveland will typically breed in June and July. Their young leave the nest around just 20 days of age, and it's not uncommon for certain species, like the ruby-throated hummingbird, to build and lay eggs in a second nest while they are feeding the hatchlings in their first.

Here in Ohio, you are most likely to spot ruby-throated hummingbirds... but they're definitely not the only ones here! The ruby-throated hummingbird weighs less than an ounce, but this species has been recorded traveling as fast as 60 miles per hour. It was once believed that this was the only Ohio hummingbird, but locals have spotted other species even during the winter! The rufous hummingbird typically breeds near Alaska and spends winters in Mexico, but in the past few decades, a select few have been spotted wintering in Ohio. Even tropical hummingbirds like the violet-ear hummingbird from Central America have been spotted in Ohio from time to time!

Hummingbirds, as you know, feast on insects and nectar alike, so now's a great time to start thinking about what you'll be planting this spring. Since these gorgeous creatures love nectar so much, they can be found in great abundance in brightly colored flower gardens, or you can place artificial feeders. Native Ohio wildflowers are the best at attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and even the hummingbird hawk-moth.

These guys usually start to arrive around mid-April and early May, and they usually stay until September. When September rolls around, hummingbirds usually start fattening up and planning their trips down south and out west. As some hummingbirds travel up to Canada in the spring, many of them may pass through Ohio as they travel to their winter homes.

Whether you're exploring a Cleveland landmark like the Cultural Gardens or enjoying the privacy of your own backyard, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for hummingbirds.

To many, the arrival of hummingbirds is a telltale sign that summer is on its way. Plus, there's a certain sort of grace about these guys that is downright mesmerizing. You never know who (or what species of hummingbird, for that matter) will be visiting you this spring and summer. These beautiful and majestic creatures will be seen all over the United States very soon, and many will be passing through (and possibly even nesting in) Greater Cleveland!

In Ohio, the hummingbird migration is a telltale sign of spring's arrival. If you're lucky enough, you just might grab a picture of your super duper tiny and speedy visitors -- especially if you set yourself up for success with a hummingbird feeder! Have you ever photographed a hummingbird in Cleveland, Ohio? Where is your favorite place to watch these incredible creatures? We'd love to hear from you, so visit our nomination page and tell us all about it!

While waiting to catch a glimpse of the hummingbird migration in Cleveland, check out this great video of a ruby-throated hummingbird male at a feeder:

So, when will hummingbirds arrive in Cleveland? The sooner, the better, because when they do, spring is here! If you love seeing hummingbirds in Ohio, the Secrest Arboretum has a garden that they can't resist.