California hosts both year-round resident and long-distance migratory hummingbirds, leading to a complicated answer regarding migration. These birds maintain the highest metabolic rates of any animal, requiring them to consume roughly half their body weight in sugar daily. Their survival depends on balancing immense energy needs with the availability of nectar, insects, and shifting seasons.
Resident and Migratory Species
California is home to a permanent resident species, the Anna’s Hummingbird. This species is found year-round across the coastal and inland regions of the state, having expanded its range due to the proliferation of ornamental plants and feeders in suburban areas. The Anna’s Hummingbird, recognizable by its iridescent magenta head and throat, is the most common hummingbird encountered in California during the winter months.
The state also serves as a breeding ground and migratory corridor for several other species. The Rufous Hummingbird is a powerful long-distance traveler that breeds in places like Alaska and Canada but passes through California on its journey to wintering grounds in Mexico. Another migratory species is the Allen’s Hummingbird, which has two distinct populations: a migratory group that breeds along the coast and winters in Mexico, and a non-migratory group that remains year-round in the southern coastal regions and Channel Islands.
The Annual Migration Schedule
Migratory species follow an annual cycle that uses California as a crucial stopover point. The Allen’s Hummingbird is one of the earliest migrants in North America, with males arriving on breeding grounds along the California coast as early as January or February, coinciding with the first winter blooms. This early arrival allows them to establish territories before other species move through.
The Rufous Hummingbird migration is a staggered, clockwise loop, traveling north along the Pacific coast in the spring toward their northern breeding territories. The fall migration begins early, with birds starting their southbound journey as early as July, often shifting inland to follow mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada. California’s varied habitats provide a “floral highway” of nectar sources, allowing them to refuel for their journey to wintering areas in central Mexico, a trip that can cover nearly 4,000 miles.
Winter Adaptations of Non-Migrants
The resident Anna’s Hummingbirds survive California’s colder periods by employing a specialized survival strategy called torpor. This state is a temporary, energy-saving measure that dramatically slows the bird’s metabolism, allowing them to conserve energy when food is scarce or temperatures drop overnight. During torpor, a hummingbird’s heart rate can decrease from over 1,000 beats per minute to fewer than 50, and its body temperature can drop significantly.
This deep, sleep-like state allows them to survive cold nights without burning through fat reserves, though it can take up to 20 minutes to fully awaken and warm up in the morning. Their winter survival is further aided by native plants that bloom in the cooler months, such as gooseberry and currant, which provide reliable nectar. In suburban environments, human-provided sugar feeders also become a predictable source of energy during the winter months.
How to Support Hummingbirds in Your Yard
Supporting the diverse hummingbird populations in California requires providing a combination of food, water, and shelter year-round. When using feeders, a solution of one part white sugar to four parts water is recommended; it should be boiled briefly before cooling. Feeders must be cleaned every few days, especially in warmer weather, using hot water or a mild solution of one part vinegar to four parts water to prevent the growth of harmful mold.
A more sustainable form of support is planting native California species that offer nectar over multiple seasons, such as Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) or California fuchsia. Hummingbirds also rely on small insects and spiders for protein, particularly when feeding their young, so minimizing the use of pesticides is important. Leaving spiderwebs intact provides the elastic silk the females use to construct and bind their expandable nests.