When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in West Virginia? (2026)
Hummingbirds typically arrive in West Virginia 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.
Last updated: August 2026 · Typical windows for West Virginia. Weather shifts arrival by a week or more in any given year.
Hummingbirds in West Virginia: the year at a glance
What makes West Virginia different
West Virginia's mountainous terrain creates real local variation — a valley garden can host birds a week or more before a ridge-top one at the same latitude.
Hummingbird species in West Virginia
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ranges shift, and vagrants turn up well outside their expected territory — particularly in autumn and winter. If you see a hummingbird in West Virginia outside the windows above, it is worth reporting to your state ornithological society.
Getting your West Virginia 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 West Virginia'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 West Virginia season
Bee-resistant, drip-free and quick to clean — the shape experts recommend.
Check price on AmazonReaches the ports where mould starts in warm weather.
Check price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, Birdiy earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions about hummingbirds in West Virginia
When do hummingbirds arrive in West Virginia?
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 West Virginia?
By April 15, about two weeks before the first birds are usually reported.
When do hummingbirds leave West Virginia?
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 West Virginia?
Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Will leaving my feeder up stop them migrating?
No. Day length triggers migration, not food. A feeder left up in West Virginia 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 →