Another Great Tracking Season Full of Surprises

What an interesting fall migration season it has been! Warmer weather in portions of the U.S. lead to a protracted fall migration season. Observers submitted multiple sightings of white hummingbirds. Finally, just this past week, rare sightings of Black-chinned hummingbirds in eastern U.S.

From Kendallville, Indiana: Michael said it all when he submitted this entry from October 2019: "Today marks the fourth morning without a hummingbird sighting since our last reported sighting on the evening of October 4th. Temperatures are going to start falling into a more seasonal range of lows flirting in the upper 30 degree to even the possibility of first frost in the next few days. As per standard practice our feeders will remain up and maintained for at least 10 more days (2 weeks from last hummer sighting). Having noted sightings are still occurring north of our location, there's always that one migrating traveler getting a very late start that will need a refueling boost along the way. This 2019 hummingbird season has been a busy one for me diverting my usual observing and reporting attention. Still it has been another great season and I'm looking forward to the 2020 season. Thank you to everyone there at Journey North for a wonderful 2019 hummingbird season!" (10/08/2019)

From Delano, TN: Deanna commented, "Freezing temperatures prompted me to contact SEAR and a birder friend, because I still had what I thought was a juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird still feeding from my feeder. On Feb 16th, the hummer was trapped, tagged and measured. This morning I found out she is a Black-chinned. Five birders from as far as western TN left today many pictures later. What an exciting day." (11/18/2019)

From Virginia Beach, VA: Kelly submitted this surprising sighting: "Young juvenile male Black-chinned Hummingbird most likely overwintering in my yard. Has been here a month. He has finally been confirmed by eBird as a Black-Chinned which is super rare for our area!" (11/21/2019)

From Alamogordo, NM: Mary noted "I am still seeing 1 rufous. I'm not sure if it is overwintering or what but it looks like one I have had since the summer. I had 2 on the 15th but the last couple days I have just seen this colorful beauty. It was nectaring from one of my feeders." (11/17/2019)

Taking a Short Hiatus

Journey North will take a short hiatus from emailing our weekly news updates for the 2019 migration season. However, the hummingbird migration story continues. In western and southern regions of the U.S., hummingbirds can still be seen. Please continue to report your observations. 

Adult Male Hummingbirds

• Report to Journey North all monarchs you see during December 2019 and January and February 2020. Hummingbirds are present all winter in many southern and western U.S. states and southern California.

Nectaring at Flowers
What natural sources of nectar are available at your location and how late into the fall season?

Report when hummingbirds are nectaring at flowers.

Thank You!

Thank  you for all your submissions. Journey North citizen scientists contributed an impressive 14,000+ observations. Thank you for all that you do for Journey North on behalf of hummingbirds. News updates will begin again in spring 2020.