New Jersey
Hummingbirds are on their way! Check number of sightings in NJ on this interactive map
Dance of the Sandy Neck hummingbird
Eavesdropping on a ruby throat-ed hummingbird getting a morning fill up at a feeder on Sandy Neck in Barnstable
Steve Heaslip, Cape Cod Times
Hummingbird migration is in full swing! Coming in at only a few inches long with their tiny fluttering wings and long narrow beak, the hummingbirds are swiftly making their way north from Central America and Mexico where they spend their winters.
Although they are tiny, some species of hummingbirds can travel up to 5,000 miles in a year and they visit hundreds of flowers each day, according to the American Bird Conservancy. New Jersey’s most commonly spotted hummingbird, the ruby-throated hummingbird, makes the 500-mile journey across the Gulf of Mexico in less than a day.
According to the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, hummingbirds leave their wintering grounds in early spring and are expected to arrive around mid-April to find new territories for the breeding season.
As these tiny birds embark on their great journey north and shortly begin to arrive in New Jersey you can keep track of their migration pattern using an interactive map from USA TODAY. This map compiles bird sighting data from Project FeederWatch to outline hummingbird migration patterns.
According to the map, during April New Jersey has had 146 sightings of the ruby-throated hummingbird, most of which were in central and South Jersey. In North Jersey there have been nine sightings in Morris County and one sighting each in Bergen County, Passaic County, and Warren County so far this month.
Other species of hummingbird that can be spotted in New Jersey include:
- Rufous hummingbird
- Black-chinned hummingbird
- Calliope hummingbird
- Allen’s hummingbird
- Broat-tailed hummingbird
- Mexican violetear
According to the map, these species have not yet been spotted in New Jersey during April.
North Jersey: Go glamping and experience nature in style: 5 sites to book this summer
Ruby-throated hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the hummingbird species that you are most likely to spot in New Jersey. According to New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, the ruby-throated hummingbird is the most commonly seen hummingbird in North America seen east of the Mississippi River.
The ruby-throated hummingbird is between 3 and 3.5 inches long. The are the smallest migrating birds. Their wings can beat more than 50 times in a second, so fast that it creates a humming sound.
If you are trying to spot one, look for a metallic green color on top with whitish-gray underparts and wings that are almost black. They have long narrow beaks that they use to sip nectar from flowers.
Males have a ruby red patch on their throat with a black upper rim. Their tail is forked and black with a slight violet sheen.
Females have notched tails with green, black, and white edges. A female ruby-throated hummingbird will have a white throat, not a red one, with potential streaks of gray.
Their nests are tiny and can be found on downward sloping branches. They typically build nests between 10 and 40 feet above the ground, according to the Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station.
Males perform a courtship display which includes diving down from 50 feet above the female in a U-shaped flight pattern with short horizontal flights directly in front of the female. If she accepts, they will perform flights together before mating. A female will typically lay two or three eggs.
Between late July and early September, they will leave the breeding grounds to migrate south again, starting the whole process over.
Feeding hummingbirds
If you are interested in helping hummingbirds as they finish their journey and settle down in our state for mating season you can put out feeders and plant flowers.
“While native flowering plants are the best source of nectar for hummingbirds, supplementing with a well-tended sugar-water feeder can provide additional sustenance during nesting season and migration,” says the National Audobon Society.
Here are some tips for feeding hummingbirds from the Audobon’s hummingbird feeding FAQs.
- The best solution for your feeder is a 1:4 solution of refined white sugar to tap water. This equals 1/4 cup of sugar to one cup of water. Bring the solution to a boil, let it cool, then fill the feeder.
- The feeder should be emptied and cleaned often. Twice per week in hot weather and once per week in cooler weather. Clean with hot tap water or a weak vinegar solution. Avoid using dish soap.
- While hummingbirds are attracted to red-colored things, do not put red coloring into the nectar solution. The reddening chemicals could be harmful to the birds.
- The best time to put out your feeder is about a week before hummingbirds usually arrive in your yard. They can be left out for as long as you have hummingbirds around. Just make sure to consistently follow the guidelines for keeping the feeders clean.
- Planting red or orange tubular flowers can attract hummingbirds and help them discover your feeder.
Due to the presence of sugar water in hummingbird feeders it is crucial to keep them clean. Spoiled sugar water can lead to mold, fermentation, and bacteria growth which will not only deter birds from coming back but could also cause digestive and other health problems for the birds. It can also attract unwanted critters such as insects.
PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) — One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting in Paterson.
The violence erupted around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of East 29th Street and 10th Avenue.
Children nearby gasped in horror at the sound of rapid gunfire. They were just about to sing Happy Birthday to their 13-year-old friend at her backyard party, but instead of blowing out the candles, they ducked for cover when they heard gunshots in the distance.
“Just hearing it – it was scary to witness, to hear. Especially on my birthday. Like a time I’m trying to play with my friends, get together,” said the 13-year-old.
She also says she had a friend who was there who saw what happened.
“He was going to the bodega – he went running back, but he had saw two people come out of a car and then shoot, but it was like an automatic gun,” she added.
Bystanders watched in shock and panic as first responders treated the victims. One of them was lying in the street next to a car and another was on the ground next to a bicycle.
Local councilman Luis Velez says the City of Paterson has taken measures to reduce crime in this part of town – what he calls a ‘hotspot’ — in part by installing security cameras. He is encouraging the community to cooperate.
“Paterson Police is doing their job as I know, they’re doing a great job to reduce crime, but one again we, the police, nobody, not even the news media has a crystal ball to say this is going to happen now,” Velez said, “Some people see corners getting built up, they see activities and they’re afraid to come out and say something, but our police department is trained to keep it confidential and approach to bring the quality of life in this area.”
The 13-year-old hopes her next birthday party is not ruined by the sound of gunshots.
“First we thought it was fireworks, but then we heard sirens and everyone started going home because they were scared,” she added.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Let’s be honest, we didn’t need a national list to tell us this. New Jersey has the best restaurants, the best food, and some of the most talented chefs anywhere in America.
It’s something locals have been saying forever, and now the rest of the country is catching up. Still, it’s always nice to see that recognition on a big stage.
We Already Knew New Jersey Was the Best
USA TODAY’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list highlights standout dining destinations across the country.
From humble roadside gems to chef-driven hotspots earning major buzz, the list celebrates places that truly stand out, and New Jersey showed up in a big way.
Three New Jersey Spots Earn National Recognition
This year, three Garden State restaurants made the prestigious list:
- The Pasta Shop – Denville
- Ram & Rooster – Metuchen
- Anjelica’s – Sea Bright
And yes, that includes a Jersey Shore favorite, because of course it does.
These restaurants represent everything people love about dining in New Jersey, quality, creativity, and flavors that keep you coming back.
A Jersey Shore Standout Shines
There’s something special about seeing a Jersey Shore restaurant included among the best in America. It’s not just about great food, it’s about the full experience, the atmosphere, and that unmistakable local charm.
Anjelica’s in Sea Bright earning a spot only reinforces what shore locals already know: some of the best meals you’ll ever have are right here, close to home.
No Surprise, Just Well-Deserved
At the end of the day, this recognition feels less like a surprise and more like confirmation. New Jersey’s food scene has always been top-tier, and lists like this just make it official.
Keep Reading: Beloved New Jersey Restaurant is Closing
So whether you’re heading to Denville, Metuchen, or down the shore, you already know, you’re in for something special.
PHOTOS: Step Inside a 1970s Kitchen — 34 Things You’ll Recognize
From Tupperware jugs (you know the ones) to those ever-present knife sharpeners, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the quintessential ’70s kitchen.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
If You Grew Up in the ’70s and ’80s, These Foods Were Super Fancy
From Babybels to Toblerone chocolate, take a nostalgic bite out of these ‘fancy’ childhood foods that made us feel way more elegant than we really were.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
FIFA and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill have become embroiled in a war of words this past week as the prospect of $150 train tickets to travel to World Cup games and plans to close parts of New York’s Penn Station have angered residents.
The recent uproar began after reports surfaced April 6 that parts of Penn Station would be closed to NJ Transit commuters not attending World Cup games for four hours before kickoff during the eight matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
Advertisement
Moreover, round-trip train tickets between Penn Station in Manhattan and MetLife Stadium, where the final of the FIFA World Cup is set to be played, were announced by NJ Transit to come in at $150 per person.
A return ride on the same line typically costs $12.90, according to NJ Transit.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026.
In a press release on April 17, Sherrill said the move to increase prices was caused by FIFA’s decision to eliminate parking at MetLife Stadium. The Democratic governor said price increases happened because FIFA did not agree to cover the costs of transporting fans.
“We are committed to ensuring costs are shared fairly. As I have said repeatedly, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” Sherrill said.
Advertisement
More: Going to World Cup at MetLife Stadium? Expect $150 train tickets and no parking
FIFA, on the other hand, has said the price increase would have a “chilling effect” on fans attending games in New Jersey and said Sherrill’s demands asking FIFA to absorb transportation costs for fans were “unprecedented.”
“Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup,” Heimo Schirgi, COO for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The NJ Transit logo is seen in the lobby of the New Jersey Transit headquarters ahead of a press briefing on the New York/New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 regional mobility plan in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 2026.
What are other cities doing with World Cup transportation?
New Jersey has not been the only place where transportation costs have been the subject of discussion ahead of the World Cup. In Boston, round-trip train train tickets on the MBTA from Boston’s South Station to Gillette Stadium are being sold for $80.
Advertisement
Special event trains to Foxborough for New England Patriots NFL games and New England Revolution MLS matches are usually $20 for a round trip, according to local news station CBS Boston.
Other cities have not seen increases like the ones in New Jersey and Boston. In Atlanta, for example, train fares on the city’s MARTA will be $2.50 per ride, with children able to travel for free with a paying adult.
Kansas City is offering $15 round-trip shuttle rides for fans parking in four different park-and-ride locations, as well as those coming from FIFA’s Fan Festival in the city. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is offering fans a $3.50 round trip train ticket on its Metro Train.
SEPTA in Philadelphia is also keeping its prices low, with fans set to pay the base $2.90 fare for a ride on its Broad Street Line, which takes riders to Lincoln Financial Field, set to host six matches.
Advertisement
Katie Sobko from USA TODAY Network’s NorthJersey.com contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup fans going to MetLife Stadium to pay $150 for NJT ticket
-
Alabama2 minutes agoYMCA of South Alabama holds Healthy Kids Day in Spanish Fort
-
Alaska8 minutes ago
Bear injures two US soldiers during military training in Alaska | The Jerusalem Post
-
Arizona14 minutes agoNFL mock draft: 4-round projections for Arizona Cardinals
-
Arkansas20 minutes agoNo. 6 Arkansas ends top-ranked OU’s 31-game home winning streak with 3-2 decision
-
California26 minutes ago
Billionaire Steyer’s spending binge dwarfs rival campaigns in California governor’s race
-
Colorado32 minutes agoLandeskog – April 18 | Colorado Avalanche
-
Connecticut38 minutes agoOvernight Forecast for April 19
-
Delaware44 minutes agoState Police Arrest Dover Man for Assault and Aggravated Menacing in Dover – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
