How do hummingbirds cross the gulf of Mexico?

The Gulf of Mexico is not the only barrier that imposes this migrational fasting. A researcher reported that a Rufous hummingbird fell out of the sky over the Mojave Desert – the bird did not make the crossing safely. It is reported that ½ to ¾ of the newborn ruby-throated hummingbirds do not survive their first year of migration. read more

Not every ruby-throated hummingbird crosses the Gulf of Mexico to get “home”. There are three other common routes. Many come down from Canada on a western route through Texas and cross into Mexico directly. Others reach the coast and turn west - traveling around the Gulf so they do not have to make the water crossing. read more

The Ruby-throated Humming Bird certainly migrates from Central America (Costa Rica, etc) across the Gulf of Mexico to Texas and Florida. The journey is astonishing but no more so than the Arctic Tern which migrates from the Arctic to the Antarctic every year, or that of certain insects such as the Monarch butterfly. read more

Each year, thousands of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fly over the open water of the Gulf of Mexico rather than follow the longer shoreline route. These brave little birds will fly non-stop up to 500 miles to reach U.S. shores. read more