Thousands Of Hummingbirds Will Arrive In Wisconsin This Spring

When spring is springing here in Wisconsin, the most delightful sign of the season is undoubtedly the arrival of the hummingbirds. These adorable little birds will be arriving in Wisconsin soon, and it's something you won't want to miss. Since hummingbirds don’t migrate in flocks like other birds, their arrival is staggered; however, you’ll likely notice an influx in the upcoming months -- and there are even a few things you can do to attract the colorful creatures to your yard. Read on to learn everything you need to know about this much-anticipated annual spectacle, including when thousands of hummingbirds will arrive in Wisconsin this spring.

Many birds migrate seasonally, and hummingbirds are no exception.

They typically spend winter in Central America or Mexico, and as early as February, they begin migrating north to the U.S. for breeding.

Hummingbirds migrate hundreds or even thousands of miles, traveling up to 23 miles a day -- an incredible feat for the world’s smallest birds!

The map below depicts the migratory patterns of the ruby-throated hummingbird, which is the most common species found in Wisconsin.

The yellow indicates the birds’ migratory path, while the green represents the summer-only region and the blue shows the winter-only region.

Migrating hummingbirds usually begin to arrive in the Badger State during the first week of May, staying throughout the summer and into the fall.

Unlike other birds, hummingbirds do not migrate in flocks.

However, the males head out first and usually arrive about a week to 10 days earlier than the females.

As far as the ruby-throated hummingbird is concerned, you can differentiate between males and females by their coloring.

Males have a ruby-red throat (hence the name). Females have a green back and white, black, and grayish-green tail feathers.

Creatures of habit, hummingbirds stick to a strict (and quite impressive) routine.

They migrate at the same time each year and often return to the same yards within a day or two of their previous visit.

While migrating, the colorful little birds are more visible than usual because they fly low, in search of food, i.e. nectar from flowers -- or hummingbird feeders!

There are a couple of things you can do to increase your chances of seeing hummingbirds in Wisconsin this spring.

In addition to putting up your hummingbird feeders, you can also plant brightly-colored, tube-shaped flowers in your yard which appeal to hummingbirds. Their favorite color is red, so try and plant some red flowers!

Of course, you can always go to the hummingbirds, instead of waiting for them to come to you.

Wisconsin's Janesville’s Rotary Botanical Gardens, particularly the Children’s Garden, is a hot spot when it comes to hummingbird sightings.

Are you excited for when the hummingbirds will arrive in Wisconsin? Have you spotted any yet this year? Tell us in the comments section!

And for more on Janesville's Rotary Botanical Gardens, one of Wisconsin's best places to see the hummingbirds, definitely check out our previous article!