When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Maine? (2026)

Hummingbirds typically arrive in Maine in early to mid May, so put your feeder out by May 1. Numbers peak in June and August, the last birds are usually seen around early September, and you should take your feeder down in late September.

Early to mid MaySpring arrival
May 1Feeders up by
June and AugustPeak months
Early SeptemberLast departure
Late SeptemberFeeders down

Last updated: August 2026 · Typical windows for Maine. Weather shifts arrival by a week or more in any given year.

Hummingbirds in Maine: the year at a glance

May 1 — hang your feederHave fresh nectar out roughly two weeks before the first birds are expected. Scouts that find food early tend to return to the same yard year after year.
Early to mid May — first arrivalsAdult males come through first, staking out territory. Females follow one to two weeks later.
June and August — peak numbersThe busiest feeder activity of the year in Maine. Expect to change nectar every two to three days in warm weather.
Early September — last departuresAdult males leave first, then females, then juveniles making the journey for the first time with no adult to follow.
Late September — feeders downWhatever the calendar says, keep your feeder up until 14 days after your own last sighting. Late migrants from further north are still passing through.

What makes Maine different

Maine has one of the shortest hummingbird seasons in the country. Birds arrive as lilacs bloom and most are gone by mid-September, so the productive window is roughly four months.

Hummingbird species in Maine

Ranges shift, and vagrants turn up well outside their expected territory — particularly in autumn and winter. If you see a hummingbird in Maine outside the windows above, it is worth reporting to your state ornithological society.

Getting your Maine feeder right

The recipe is the same everywhere: four parts water to one part plain white sugar. No red dye, no honey, no brown sugar. In Maine's warm months you will need to change the nectar every two to three days, and daily once daytime highs pass 88°F — fermented nectar and black mould make hummingbirds ill.

Work out the exact amount for your feeder size with our hummingbird nectar calculator, and check the full state-by-state autumn schedule on the feeder takedown tool.

Ready for the Maine season

Hang it earlySaucer-style feeder

Bee-resistant, drip-free and quick to clean — the shape experts recommend.

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Problem solverAnt moat

Stops ants reaching the nectar without any chemicals.

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EssentialCleaning brush set

Reaches the ports where mould starts in warm weather.

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Frequently asked questions about hummingbirds in Maine

When do hummingbirds arrive in Maine?

Typically in early to mid May. Put your feeder out by May 1 so early scouts find it — males arrive one to two weeks ahead of females.

When should I put feeders out in Maine?

By May 1, about two weeks before the first birds are usually reported.

When do hummingbirds leave Maine?

The last birds are typically seen around early September. You should take your feeder down in late September — and always keep the feeder up for two weeks after your own final sighting.

What hummingbird species live in Maine?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Will leaving my feeder up stop them migrating?

No. Day length triggers migration, not food. A feeder left up in Maine helps late migrants and cannot make a healthy bird stay.

More free bird tools

🌺

Nectar Calculator

The exact 4:1 recipe sized to your feeder.

Use tool →
🍂

When to Take Feeders Down

Autumn takedown dates for all 50 states.

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Bird Identifier

Identify a mystery backyard bird in four questions.

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Hummingbird migration in other states

Want more hummingbirds in your Maine yard? Start with the flowers and feeders that actually work.

Read our hummingbird guides