Which tiny bird migrates non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico?

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the tiny bird known for migrating non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico.

Many individuals travel roughly 800 kilometres, or about 500 miles, over open water between the Yucatán Peninsula and the southern United States. Other birds follow the coastline or use islands, so the exact route varies. The direct crossing can last around 20 hours, with no flowers, food, or freshwater available along the way.

That flight is remarkable because an adult ruby-throated hummingbird weighs only about three grams. Before migration, the bird can nearly double its body fat, storing the energy needed for the crossing. It then burns much of that reserve during the journey.

The species breeds across eastern North America and southern Canada, then spends winter in Mexico, Central America, Florida, and parts of the Caribbean. A common mix-up is assuming every hummingbird makes the Gulf crossing; ruby-throated hummingbirds are the characteristic eastern North American migrant associated with this feat, while many other hummingbird species have different ranges and routes.