When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Missouri? (2026)

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

Early to mid AprilSpring arrival
April 1Feeders up by
May and SeptemberPeak months
Early OctoberLast departure
Mid OctoberFeeders down

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

Hummingbirds in Missouri: the year at a glance

April 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 April — first arrivalsAdult males come through first, staking out territory. Females follow one to two weeks later.
May and September — peak numbersThe busiest feeder activity of the year in Missouri. Expect to change nectar every two to three days in warm weather.
Early October — last departuresAdult males leave first, then females, then juveniles making the journey for the first time with no adult to follow.
Mid October — 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 Missouri different

Missouri sits mid-continent and sees a long autumn passage. Rufous Hummingbirds from the west turn up at Missouri feeders most autumns, so look closely at any late orange bird.

Hummingbird species in Missouri

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

Getting your Missouri 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 Missouri'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 Missouri season

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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 Missouri

When do hummingbirds arrive in Missouri?

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

When should I put feeders out in Missouri?

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

When do hummingbirds leave Missouri?

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

What hummingbird species live in Missouri?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird (autumn).

Will leaving my feeder up stop them migrating?

No. Day length triggers migration, not food. A feeder left up in Missouri 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.

Use tool →
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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 Missouri yard? Start with the flowers and feeders that actually work.

Read our hummingbird guides