​Ontario’s Hummingbirds: Migration, Feeding and a Fascinating History

Ruby-throated Hummingbird hovering near a feeder, fuelling up before migration.

Every spring and summer, the skies of Ontario are graced by one of nature’s most mesmerizing creatures—the hummingbird. Their brilliant colours, rapid wingbeats and dazzling aerial acrobatics bring joy to bird lovers like myself. I’ve often found myself captivated by these tiny visitors, observing their habits and noticing some surprising similarities in the sounds they make compared to other birds. But have you ever wondered how hummingbirds find your feeder, how long they stay, or where they came from in the evolutionary tree of birds? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of these tiny wonders.

Hummingbirds in Ontario: A Seasonal Visitor

Ontario is home to the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the only hummingbird species that breeds in eastern Canada. These birds usually arrive in early May, just as the flowers start blooming, and their breeding season lasts through the summer months. They build tiny, cup-shaped nests, often lined with plant down or spider silk, hidden away in trees or shrubs.

As fall approaches, you might notice fewer hummingbirds at your feeders, signalling the start of their migration south. Most begin their journey in late August or early September, but some may linger into October if the weather remains warm or food sources are plentiful. To help these late travellers, it's always a good idea to keep your feeder up until mid-October, ensuring they have enough fuel for their long journey.

The Long Journey: Hummingbird Migration

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds travel thousands of kilometres to reach their wintering grounds in Central America, especially in Mexico and Panama. Remarkably, many of these tiny birds make a non-stop flight over the Gulf of Mexico, covering up to 800 kilometres in one go. Given their small size and high metabolism, this migration is an impressive feat of endurance.

Providing fresh nectar during migration can be a vital energy source for hummingbirds as they prepare for their journey. If you’re in Ontario, keeping your feeder available until mid-October gives those lingering birds a much-needed boost.

Keeping Your Feeder Fresh and Welcoming

Photo of red Perky-Pet backyard hummingbird feeder © Matt Vardy

If you’ve just hung up a hummingbird feeder, you might wonder, “How do they find it?” Hummingbirds rely primarily on sight to locate nectar sources, especially attracted to bright red colours. Once they find your feeder, their excellent memories will keep them coming back as long as the nectar stays fresh.

Here are a few tips to keep your feeder inviting:

• Use a bright red feeder to catch their eye.

• Change the nectar every few days to prevent fermentation or spoilage.

• Clean the feeder regularly to avoid attracting pests like ants or wasps.

Why Keep Your Feeder Up Longer?

You might be tempted to take your feeder down as fall sets in, but leaving it up until mid-October can be crucial for late-migrating birds. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds need all the energy they can get to complete their long migration to Central America. Don’t worry about keeping them from leaving—hummingbirds migrate based on daylight changes, not food availability, so they’ll depart when they’re ready.

Hummingbirds, the Trochilidae Family and Their Connection to Swifts

As I’ve spent more time observing hummingbirds, I noticed something curious—their sounds reminded me of swallows and swifts. It turns out, this isn’t a coincidence. Hummingbirds belong to the family Trochilidae, a group of over 300 species primarily found in the Americas. Known for their rapid wingbeats and ability to hover while feeding on nectar, members of the Trochilidae family are remarkably specialized.

Interestingly, hummingbirds share a distant evolutionary connection with swifts and, more distantly, swallows. Both hummingbirds and swifts are part of the order Apodiformes, a group of birds with small legs and feet adapted for perching rather than walking. Swifts remained insect-eaters, while hummingbirds evolved to feed primarily on nectar. Despite these differences, the evolutionary connection explains some of the similarities in their vocalizations and high-speed flight.

While swifts and swallows belong to different families—Trochilidae for hummingbirds and Hirundinidae for swallows—their shared ancestry ties them together in intriguing ways.

The Sounds of Hummingbirds: A Personal Observation

If you’ve ever heard the soft chirps and clicks of hummingbirds, you might notice they sound somewhat like swallows or swifts, just as I did. These sharp, high-pitched vocalizations are one of the subtle ways in which hummingbirds and swallows echo their shared evolutionary roots. In addition to their chirping, hummingbirds also create that familiar buzzing sound as they zip through the air—caused by their wings beating up to 80 times per second!

The Evolution of the Hummingbird: From Insects to Nectar

Hummingbirds evolved from insect-eating birds, similar to modern swifts. While swifts continued to hunt insects, hummingbirds adapted to feed on nectar, developing long, specialized beaks and incredible hovering abilities to access flowers. This evolutionary split occurred around 42-48 million years ago, resulting in the tiny nectar-feeders we know today.

Despite their specialization, hummingbirds still eat insects for protein, often catching small bugs mid-flight. This combination of nectar and insects fuels their high-energy lifestyle, making them incredibly efficient flyers.

A Magical Visitor Worth Protecting

Hummingbirds bring a touch of magic to Ontario’s summers. Their brilliant colours, mesmerizing flight and sharp chirps remind us of the incredible diversity in the bird world. Whether you're admiring them at your feeder or watching them flit through flowers, it’s hard not to be captivated by their charm. By keeping your feeder clean, fresh and available through the migration season, you’re offering these delicate birds a much-needed boost on their long journey south.

So, next time you hear those tiny chirps or catch a glimpse of a hummingbird darting to your feeder, take a moment to appreciate the evolutionary marvel before you—one that shares an ancient connection to swifts and swallows, yet has carved its own unique niche in nature’s grand design.