06/09/2025
Donât remove feeders yet! Theyâre migrating and need lots of fuel for the flight.
Happy National Hummingbird Day!
Each fall, Arkansas welcomes thousands of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) as they fuel up for one of the most remarkable migrations in the animal kingdom. Soon, these tiny travelers will fly nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico to reach their wintering grounds in Central America.
Beating their wings about 50 times per second, hummingbirds burn energy fast, so they must visit hundreds of flowers daily to refuel. Native plants, such as Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia), Fire Pink (Silene virginica), and Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans), provide the nectar they need to continue their journey.
At the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, we protect the habitats that support hummingbirds and countless other pollinators through our System of Natural Areas. Whether youâre watching one at your backyard feeder or spotting them darting through a prairie or forest edge, take a moment today to appreciate these incredible aerial acrobats.
We hope you catch a glimpse of these winged wonders today!