Hummingbird Migration Calendar 2026
Hummingbirds reach the Gulf Coast in late February and the Canadian border by mid May, moving north at roughly 20 miles a day. Pick your state below for typical arrival dates, when to hang your feeder, the peak months, and when the last birds leave in autumn.
Last updated: August 2026 · Windows describe typical years. Weather shifts arrival by a week or more, and the two-week rule after your last sighting always overrides the calendar.
How the spring migration works
The northward wave is not a race. It tracks the opening of nectar flowers and the emergence of small insects, advancing at about 20 miles a day:
Gulf Coast late Feb → mid-South late Mar → Midwest & mid-Atlantic mid Apr → Northeast & Upper Midwest early May → Canada mid MayWorked example
In Ohio, the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are typically reported in mid to late April. Hang your feeder around April 15 — roughly a fortnight early — so the first scouts find your yard and register it as a food source. Those early arrivals are overwhelmingly males, with females following one to two weeks later.
Autumn is the opposite, and it surprises people
Southbound migration is slower and much longer than the spring rush. Adult males leave first, sometimes as early as late July, followed by females, and finally the juveniles making the journey for the first time with no adult to follow. In the west, Rufous Hummingbirds start south in July at the height of summer. This is why an August feeder can seem abandoned in Montana while an October feeder in Louisiana is still busy — and why taking feeders down in early September is a genuine mistake across most of the country.
Hummingbird migration by state
Each state page has arrival and departure windows, the species you can expect, and advice specific to that state's geography.
The Gulf crossing
Many Ruby-throated Hummingbirds cross the Gulf of Mexico non-stop — around 500 miles of open water, 18 to 22 hours of continuous flight, by a bird weighing about as much as a nickel. They nearly double their body weight in fat before setting out. Others take the longer overland route around the coast through Texas and Mexico. Both strategies work, and which one an individual bird uses appears to depend on weather and its condition at departure.
Getting ready for arrival
Easy to clean, bee-resistant and drip-free — have it up before the first scouts arrive.
Check price on AmazonA simple water barrier that stops ants reaching the nectar entirely.
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Frequently asked questions
When should I put my feeder out in spring?
One to two weeks before the first birds are typically reported in your state — late February on the Gulf Coast, early April in the Midwest, early May in the far north.
How fast do hummingbirds migrate north?
About 20 miles a day, tracking flower and insect emergence. Males travel one to two weeks ahead of females.
Do they really cross the Gulf of Mexico?
Many do — roughly 500 miles non-stop in 18 to 22 hours, after nearly doubling their body weight in fat. Others go overland around the coast.
Why do western hummingbirds leave so early?
Rufous Hummingbirds start south in July, following mountain wildflowers. An empty August feeder in the northwest usually means the season is simply over.
Will leaving my feeder up delay migration?
No — day length triggers migration, not food. Leaving it up helps late migrants and cannot make a healthy bird stay.
Which states keep hummingbirds all year?
California, western Oregon and Washington (Anna's), Arizona and southern Nevada, plus the Gulf Coast states where western vagrants regularly overwinter.