Hummingbirds are traveling back to Ohio gardens! Here's what to know
Hear that hum? Tiny, hardworking hummingbirds will soon be back in your garden.
These small birds can travel thousands of miles each year during spring migration. While en route to their new home, hummingbirds may fly up to 23 miles per day and can go as fast as 60 miles per hour, according to Hummingbird Central.
Migration maps indicate that hummingbirds could reappear in Southern Ohio as soon as this week. Here's what to know about these adorable little creatures.
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When do hummingbirds return to Ohio?
Hummingbirds reached Ohio around April 12 last year according to 2022 migration maps, Kathy Garza-Behr, a wildlife communications specialist at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds, which are the most common species to see in Ohio, travel north each spring from Central America, where they spend the winter. Many of these teeny birds fly over the Gulf of Mexico in one nonstop flight, Garza-Behr said.
These hummingbirds can be identified by their green backs and white bellies, which both males and females have. Males also don a ruby red throat, living up to their name.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds arrive in Ohio in April and May, and travel south in September. Another species of hummingbird, the rare rufous hummingbird, is sometimes spotted in Ohio during late fall and winter months.
Other species that are less common but have been seen in the state are calliope, Allen’s and Anna’s hummingbirds.
Hummingbird migration map
Take a look at the 2023 hummingbird migration map to see where the birds are currently being spotted.
When to put out hummingbird feeders in Ohio
Homemade nectar hummingbird feeders, made with one part white sugar and four parts water, can be placed outside before or around the birds' arrival. Bird Feeder Hub recommends that Ohioans put hummingbird feeders outside in mid- to late-April, but other birding outlets suggest they can go up even earlier.
What plants attract hummingbirds?
Nectar-rich, brightly-colored tubular flowers will attract hummingbirds to your garden, the Old Farmer's Almanac says. Some of these flowering plants include bee balms, columbine flowers, daylilies, lupines and petunias.
To make your garden even more inviting to these tiny birds, the Almanac suggests planting flowers with space in between, which gives hummingbirds room to hover, and providing shaded areas.
Hummingbirds rely on bright colors to find their food and are most attracted to red and orange hues. If you go the homemade nectar route, the Almanac warns not to dye the mixture red, as this could harm the birds. Instead, use a red-colored feeder to attract them.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hummingbird migration 2023: When do hummingbirds return to Ohio?
