The most common in our area is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, according to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center
ROANOKE, Va. – The first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been spotted in Virginia! According to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, hummingbird migration is underway, and it won’t be long before Southwest Virginia sees the return of one of it’s most beloved birds. Many of them will travel extraordinary lengths, with some flying across the Gulf of Mexico in one flight. The Wildlife Center explained that there are more than 350 different species worldwide, 15 of which can be found in the United States.
According to Hummingbird Central, an online resource started by the
Chaparell Nature Preserve that allows bird watchers to document their sightings on an interactive map, the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were spotted in Virginia on March 30 in La Crosse, Chesapeake, Elberon, and Williamsburg. The first sightings could happen any day now in Southwest Virginia. If you normally put your hummingbird feeders out, we’re sure you’ve come across the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, as it is the most common in our area. But the Wildlife Center said it’s a chance you could get a glimpse of a Rufous or an Allen’s Hummingbird, which are rarely seen in Southwest Virginia. Sometimes, however, they are blown off their migratory routes. According to the Wildlife Center, males tend to arrive first with their bright red throats, followed by the females shortly after. Watch Rachel anchor weekdays during 10 News at 5, 5:30, 6 and 7 p.m. Rachel also specializes in health reporting and provides daily reports during HealthWatch. A Southwest Virginia native, Rachel takes pride in covering local news for the place she calls home.
