When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in New Jersey? (2026)

Hummingbirds typically arrive in New Jersey in mid to late April, so put your feeder out by April 15. Numbers peak in late May and September, the last birds are usually seen around late September, and you should take your feeder down in mid October.

Mid to late AprilSpring arrival
April 15Feeders up by
Late May and SeptemberPeak months
Late SeptemberLast departure
Mid OctoberFeeders down

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

Hummingbirds in New Jersey: the year at a glance

April 15 — 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.
Mid to late April — first arrivalsAdult males come through first, staking out territory. Females follow one to two weeks later.
Late May and September — peak numbersThe busiest feeder activity of the year in New Jersey. Expect to change nectar every two to three days in warm weather.
Late September — 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 New Jersey different

New Jersey's coast acts as a migration corridor in autumn, and Cape May in particular concentrates southbound birds. Coastal gardens can be busy well into late September.

Hummingbird species in New Jersey

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

Getting your New Jersey 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 New Jersey'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 New Jersey season

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Frequently asked questions about hummingbirds in New Jersey

When do hummingbirds arrive in New Jersey?

Typically in mid to late April. Put your feeder out by April 15 so early scouts find it — males arrive one to two weeks ahead of females.

When should I put feeders out in New Jersey?

By April 15, about two weeks before the first birds are usually reported.

When do hummingbirds leave New Jersey?

The last birds are typically seen around late September. 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 New Jersey?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Will leaving my feeder up stop them migrating?

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

More free bird tools

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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 New Jersey yard? Start with the flowers and feeders that actually work.

Read our hummingbird guides