When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Washington? (2026)
Hummingbirds are present in Washington all year. Anna's Hummingbird is resident here rather than migratory, numbers peak in April to August as migrants add to the population, and you should keep your feeder up year-round in western Washington.
Last updated: August 2026 · Typical windows for Washington. Weather shifts arrival by a week or more in any given year.
Hummingbirds in Washington: the year at a glance
What makes Washington different
Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter across the Puget Sound region, surviving genuine freezes. In hard frost, bring the feeder in overnight and rehang it at first light — those birds depend on it.
Hummingbird species in Washington
- Anna's Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
Ranges shift, and vagrants turn up well outside their expected territory — particularly in autumn and winter. If you see a hummingbird in Washington outside the windows above, it is worth reporting to your state ornithological society.
Getting your Washington 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 Washington'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 Washington season
Bee-resistant, drip-free and quick to clean — the shape experts recommend.
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Frequently asked questions about hummingbirds in Washington
When do hummingbirds arrive in Washington?
Typically year-round — they are resident rather than migratory. Put your feeder out by Keep up year-round (west) so early scouts find it — males arrive one to two weeks ahead of females.
When should I put feeders out in Washington?
By Keep up year-round (west), about two weeks before the first birds are usually reported.
When do hummingbirds leave Washington?
The last birds are typically seen around mid September for Rufous. You should keep your feeder up year-round in western Washington — and always keep the feeder up for two weeks after your own final sighting.
What hummingbird species live in Washington?
Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird.
Will leaving my feeder up stop them migrating?
No. Day length triggers migration, not food. A feeder left up in Washington 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 → 🔍Bird Identifier
Identify a mystery backyard bird in four questions.
Use tool →