Hummingbird Migration Dates
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (female)
The Hummers are on the move. Yes, The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have arrived back in North America and are making their way north to the good old Delaware Valley.
The hummingbirds have already arrived in the deep south (or never left). The website Hummingbird Migration tracks the northward migration of the hummingbirds. Naturalists like you and me input the date that the first hummingbirds arrive in their area.
Using the Hummingbird Migration website to checking past years data, helps to know when you should put out hummingbird feeders in your area.
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds usually arrive in Philadelphia in early April. I will be putting my feeder out the last week of March.
Ruby-Throats are the only hummingbird species that regularly calls this area home for the summer breeding and nesting season.
Studies have shown that the Ruby-Throated moves northward as three key flowers come into bloom. Those plants are Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia), Clove Currant (Ribes odoratum) and Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). Now we know what to plant for those early arriving Ruby-Throats.
The hummingbird migration dates vary in different regions of the country. Some areas have several species regularly nesting in their area. Field guides can tell you what species to expect and when. The following chart covers the eight most common species that breed in North America.
| Eastern | Northward | Southward |
| Ruby-throated | late February to mid-May | late July to late October |
| Western | Northward | Southward |
| Allen’s | January to March | mid-May to September |
| Anna’s | does not migrate; shifts to local areas with more food |
|
| Black-chinned | mid-March through mid-May | mid-July – November |
| Broad-tailed | March to May | August to October |
| Calliope | March to May | late July to September |
| Costa’s | late January to February | September to October |
| Rufous | February to May | late June to September |
Donna, Please help us with a question. I have a friend that says Hummingbirds are poisonous. Is the true? And if so, What makes them poisonous.
Thanks for your help.
Poisonous? I have never heard that Hummingbirds are poisonous. What would be poisonous? They don’t have teeth or fangs. Their claws are tiny. I can’t imagine what on them would be poisonous.
I will say no, hummingbirds are not poisonous.
Greetings we reside on Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia Canada , we have lots of humming birds returning every year. We are looking for some advise as to when we should place our feeders out? Thanks in advance.
Kind Regards
Ken & Arnaly
Hi Ken and Arnaly
I actually visited Nova Scotia several years ago. It’s a very lovely place.
Put your feeders out now. It is good to put the feeders up before you see the first hummingbirds. There is always that early soul who shows up early to stake out territory.
And keep them up probably into September. Nova Scotia weather seemed a bit mild even though it much further north than I am. I guess it’s the moderating influence of the ocean.
The hummingbirds probably start south in August were you are. But they tend to hang around longer than humans think they should.
Enjoy!
Hi Donna
Thanks for your expeditious reply! This is wonderful news as I just bought yet another humming bird feeder for my wife today ~ We had a very long harsh winter and although spring has arrived it has been been making ‘ glacial progress ‘
We are facing the mighty atlantic on seven majestic acres with a plethora of bird and animal life , we really like your blog and hope to keep in touch. Thanks again for your help.
Kindest Regards
Ken & Arnaly ~
Kenneth Shasky ken@aamusiclab.com
we are feeding 5 at a time and have seen 7-9 flying around at once. the texas drought with lack of flowers may be attributing to this. we have never seen this many at once. when should we pull the feeders so they will continue south before winter? we live in se tx. thanks
Hi, Lillian
Keeping your feeders out will not stop the hummingbirds from migrating. You can keep them out until no more hummers visit them.
In Texas they just may not migrate. Recent studies have shown that hummers stay around in the deep south far later into the year then most people realized. The explanations range from, “we weren’t looking for them therefore we didn’t see them” to “maybe the birds have changed their habits”.
Either way the birds will move along when they are good and ready.
It is great that you are feeding them, they probably are glad to get the nectar.
Donna
Thank you so much for the information. We did have 1 bird last year that stayed through the winter. We had to bring the feeder in some nights so it would not freeze and put it out the next morning for it again. We love watching them and appreciate your assistance and web site of great information.
How late in the fall should you stop putting out feeders in WV?
Hi, Sandra
Thanks for asking the question.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds stay in the our part of the east through late October. In West Virginia I would keep the feeders out until the end of October.
Don’t be surprised if you see a hummingbird later than that. Studies have shown that hummingbirds stay in the area later than we think. We often miss them because me don’t expect to see them. People in my neighborhood don’t expect to see hummingbirds and are surprised when I say the visit my garden all the time.
The changing climate also might have something to do with the hummers sticking around.
Good luck.
Donna
Thanks for the input Donna. I am hoping here in Cleveland, Ohio, they will stick around, at least til late October. I do know too, once a hummer has found a reliable feeder, it returns to it year after year. This was my first year. More hummingbird to you.
i am happy to be living with my sis in wynnewood and she has a pretty ok garden which i am learning to help with … i’ve liked hummingbirds since i was a little kid in the adirondack mtns. new york and thought at first they were giant bumblebees.
anyway i have gotten a feeder which drips sugar water/humm’nbrd ‘food’ all over the place (do you know a GOOD one?) … but after a few weeks of no action and my sis
telling me wait until it’s warmer i gave up temporarily …. but yesterday evening 4/29
i finally saw one investigating my sis’s azealeas, so i quick filled up my feeder (too late) but hope to see a return tomorrow.
Here is the type of feeder I use in my garden. It is very easy to clean and has an ant moat that you fill with water to keep the ants from eating all the nectar. It works.
You can find these type of hummingbird feeder in many places and also on Amazon.com. The one I use is by Perky Pet.
Perky-Pet 221 Hummingbird Oasis Feeder, 16-Ounce Capacity