Tiny Hummingbirds Travel Thousands of Miles Through Utah Every Year

Weighing less than a penny, the calliope hummingbird might be North America’s tiniest native bird—but don’t let its size fool you. These incredible pollinators migrate thousands of miles from Canada to southern Mexico each year, with a crucial stopover in Utah. As reported by Dennis Romboy for Deseret News, these tiny birds can cover up to 5,600 miles annually.

Utah serves as a summer corridor for five hummingbird species: the black-chinned, broad-tailed, rufous, Costa’s, and of course, the elusive calliope. Their presence offers more than beauty—they’re vital to ecosystems as pollinators. While their migration is largely unseen, a rare opportunity to observe them up close is happening on July 19 at Red Canyon Lodge, where biologists will demonstrate hummingbird banding to help track their movements and improve Conservation efforts.

According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, these banding events have already tagged over 300 birds in recent years. The data collected helps scientists understand migration routes and population trends—especially critical as Climate change disrupts seasonal patterns.

Want to Support hummingbirds in your own backyard? Avoid chemical insecticides, skip harmful red dyes in feeders, and instead offer a simple homemade sugar-water mix. Native plants like penstemon, bergamot, and agastache are also excellent food sources. And if a hummingbird gets trapped in your garage (attracted by red objects), open the door and hang a feeder high up—they may find their way out at dusk.

These resilient, delicate birds remind us of nature’s wonders and how easily our actions can protect—or endanger—them. Let’s give hummingbirds a helping hand by planting pollinator-friendly flowers, avoiding pesticides, and spreading the word about their incredible journey.

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