What Happens to Hummingbirds in Winter?

Part 1. What happens to hummingbirds during the winter?

Most migratory hummingbirds head south for winter, but some stay in the U.S.

• Southern migrants: Migratory populations of Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds winter mainly in Mexico, with some species ranging into Central America.
• Year-round residents: Anna's Hummingbirds are a familiar example. They live year-round in suitable areas along the West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest, visiting backyards even in winter.
• Unusual winter visitors: Rufous Hummingbirds sometimes appear in the eastern U.S. during winter.

Winter destinations can vary widely among hummingbirds. Knowing where different hummingbirds spend winter can help you work out which species is visiting your yard.

Part 2. What Do Hummingbirds Do in the Winter?

1. Find Food for Energy

Fewer plants bloom in winter, so natural nectar becomes harder to find. Hummingbirds seek out the remaining flowers, eat small insects, and use sap and feeders. According to Think Wild, they rely more on insects when other foods are scarce.

Anna's Hummingbirds also defend food sources. If you see one chasing away other visitors, it's usually guarding a place where it can return to feed.

2. Fluff Their Feathers and Find Shelter

A hummingbird perched on a winter branch may look rounder than it did in summer. That's often its fluffed feathers: the air trapped between them helps reduce heat loss.

Dense shrubs, evergreens, and other cover also give hummingbirds shelter from cold wind, rain, and snow.

3. Use Torpor to Get Through Cold Nights

Hummingbirds have a special way to save energy called torpor, a temporary state of reduced metabolism. They lower their body temperature and metabolic rate, using less energy through the night or when food is scarce.

So, do hummingbirds hibernate in the winter? No. Once active again, they still need to feed and replace the energy they've used. Bird Alliance of Oregon notes that a hummingbird in torpor may sit still with fluffed feathers and closed eyes. Leave it undisturbed.

Part 3. What Do Hummingbirds Eat in the Winter?

1. Natural Foods: Nectar, Insects, and Sap

Hummingbirds adjust their diet in winter.

• Nectar: Provides sugar and energy. Where plants bloom in winter, flowers remain important feeding spots.

• Small insects and spiders: Provide protein, fat, and other nutrients. Hummingbirds seek out these tiny foods for nutrients nectar alone doesn't supply.
• Sap: Some hummingbirds use sap wells left by woodpeckers as an extra food source.

2. Sugar Water From Feeders

Making nectar is simple: use 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water by volume. For example, mix ¼ cup of white sugar with 1 cup of water. Dissolve the sugar fully, then let the mixture cool before filling a clean feeder.

Oregon State University Extension also recommends keeping the 1:4 ratio in cold weather. Don't add red dye or replace white sugar with honey, brown sugar, or artificial sweeteners.

Part 4. How to Help Hummingbirds Through Freezing Weather

1. Keep Nectar From Freezing

Have the first nectar of the day ready. Hummingbirds need to refuel after a cold night, so it's best to have unfrozen nectar available before first light. If you brought the feeder inside overnight, put it back out early and check that the feeding ports are clear.

Choose a way to prevent freezing that suits your local weather:

• Freezing nights: Bring the feeder in after dark, once hummingbirds have finished feeding, and put it back out before dawn.
• Freezing throughout the day: Rotate feeders or use a dedicated feeder heater.

2. Keep Nectar Fresh and Feeders Clean

In cold weather, you can clean the feeder every 3–4 days. Cleaning a hummingbird feeder is simple: empty the old nectar, rinse with hot water, scrub the container and feeding ports, then refill with fresh nectar. If the nectar turns cloudy or becomes contaminated, replace it and clean the feeder right away.

If you use a heater, change the nectar and clean the feeder more often.

3. Choose a Sheltered Feeder Location

Choose a spot that gets winter sunshine and shelter from the wind. South- and west-facing locations usually get the most winter sun and the least direct wind. A covered porch, a spot under the eaves, or the sheltered side of the house can all work well.

In an open yard, dense shrubs or a fence can help block the wind. Add a small perch nearby so hummingbirds have somewhere to rest and shelter from rain and snow.

4. Provide Natural Food and Shelter

Grow winter-blooming plants suited to your area and cut back on pesticides to provide hummingbirds with natural nectar, insects, and cover.

5. Keep the Feeding Area Safe

Clear loose strings, tape, and sticky materials from around the feeding ports to prevent injuries. Replace cracked or leaking containers promptly so nectar doesn't soak the birds' feathers.

6. Know When a Hummingbird Needs Help

Don't wake a hummingbird that appears to be in torpor. If it has a visible injury, is stuck, or has soaked feathers, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.

Skip the wait in the cold. Watch your backyard's winter visitors from the warmth of home.

Conclusion. Help Winter Hummingbirds Find Their Next Meal

Winter hummingbirds need food by day and ways to save energy at night. You can help by offering fresh, unfrozen nectar and keeping plants that provide food and shelter.

Want to record those winter visits, too? Choose a Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro and watch hummingbirds perch and feed from the warmth of your home.

FAQs

Q1: How do hummingbirds stay alive in winter?

They keep refueling during the day and use torpor at night to lower their body temperature and metabolism, saving energy. Fluffed feathers and sheltered perches also help them retain heat.

Q2: What is the coldest temperature a hummingbird can tolerate?

A field record documented a Rufous Hummingbird in Ohio experiencing a morning low of −4°F (−20°C). It continued to appear for several weeks afterward.

Q3: When should you stop feeding hummingbirds for the winter?

In areas where hummingbirds migrate away, leave the feeder up for about 2 weeks after your last sighting, giving any passing migrants a place to refuel.

Q4: What do hummingbirds eat when there are no flowers?

They look for small insects, spiders, and available sap, and drink sugar water from feeders. Sugar water supplies energy, while insects and spiders provide protein and other nutrients.

Q5: What is a hummingbird's biggest enemy?

In backyards, domestic and feral cats are among the most common predators of hummingbirds. The International Hummingbird Society also lists cats as a major predator.