The influence of weather in the migration of the Rufous Hummingbird
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29105/bys9.17-229Keywords:
wintering area, reproductive area, seasonality, Selasphorus rufus, North AmericaAbstract
13 hummingbird species are considered migratory; that is, they breed in certain regions and winter in others, traveling between different geographic areas across North America. During these journeys, hummingbirds encounter climatic variations that impact their migration and distribution patterns. This is particularly true for the Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus), a near-threatened species that breeds in the United States during spring and summer, and winters in the south-central Mexico, southeastern-northeastern United States, and southeastern Canada during fall and winter. In this contribution we documented the climatic conditions under which this species develops in its breeding and wintering areas using ecological niche and species distribution models. Some common climatic variables such as temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation, allow us to characterize the ecological niches of species. Once these niches are characterized, we can project their geographic distribution. However, climate change and habitat loss, driven by human activities, could alter the migration patterns and distribution areas of the Rufous Hummingbird.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Edson A. Alvarez-Alvarez, R. Carlos Almazán-Nuñez, L. Gerardo Herrera M.
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