When to Take Down Hummingbird Feeders (2026)
Keep your hummingbird feeder up until two weeks after you see your last hummingbird. In most northern states that's late September–mid October; in the mid-latitudes, mid-to-late October; and along the Gulf and Pacific coasts you should keep a feeder up all winter. Pick your state below for your exact window.
Last updated: August 2026 · Windows reflect typical fall departure patterns reported by US migration observers; individual years vary with weather.
How is the takedown date calculated?
Hummingbirds don't all leave at once — adult males go first, females and juveniles follow weeks later, and northern stragglers pass through southern states well into fall. The safe rule used by banders and wildlife agencies:
takedown date = your last hummingbird sighting + 14 daysWorked example
In Ohio, most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds depart by early October. If your last sighting is October 2, keep the feeder clean and full until October 16 — that two-week buffer feeds late juveniles and migrants passing through from farther north.
Fall feeder takedown dates for all 50 states
| State | Main species | Typical last departure | Take feeders down |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ruby-throated | Late October | Keep one up all winter* |
| Alaska | Rufous | Early September | Late September |
| Arizona | Anna's, Costa's, Broad-billed | Year-round residents | Keep up year-round |
| Arkansas | Ruby-throated | Mid October | November 1 |
| California | Anna's, Allen's | Year-round residents | Keep up year-round |
| Colorado | Broad-tailed, Rufous | Late September | Mid October |
| Connecticut | Ruby-throated | Mid September | October 1 |
| Delaware | Ruby-throated | Late September | Mid October |
| Florida | Ruby-throated | November | Keep one up all winter* |
| Georgia | Ruby-throated | Late October | Keep one up all winter* |
| Hawaii | None — no hummingbirds in Hawaii | — | — |
| Idaho | Black-chinned, Rufous, Calliope | Mid September | October 1 |
| Illinois | Ruby-throated | Early October | Mid October |
| Indiana | Ruby-throated | Early October | Mid October |
| Iowa | Ruby-throated | Late September | Mid October |
| Kansas | Ruby-throated | Early October | Mid October |
| Kentucky | Ruby-throated | Mid October | Late October |
| Louisiana | Ruby-throated | November | Keep one up all winter* |
| Maine | Ruby-throated | Early September | Late September |
| Maryland | Ruby-throated | Late September | Mid October |
| Massachusetts | Ruby-throated | Mid September | October 1 |
| Michigan | Ruby-throated | Mid September | October 1 |
| Minnesota | Ruby-throated | Mid September | October 1 |
| Mississippi | Ruby-throated | Late October | Keep one up all winter* |
| Missouri | Ruby-throated | Early October | Mid October |
| Montana | Rufous, Calliope | Early September | Late September |
| Nebraska | Ruby-throated | Late September | Mid October |
| Nevada | Anna's (south), Rufous | Late September (north) | Mid October — south NV keep up year-round |
| New Hampshire | Ruby-throated | Early September | Late September |
| New Jersey | Ruby-throated | Late September | Mid October |
| New Mexico | Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rufous | Mid October | November 1* |
| New York | Ruby-throated | Mid September | October 1 |
| North Carolina | Ruby-throated | Mid October | November 1* |
| North Dakota | Ruby-throated | Early September | Late September |
| Ohio | Ruby-throated | Early October | Mid October |
| Oklahoma | Ruby-throated, Black-chinned | Mid October | November 1 |
| Oregon | Anna's (west), Rufous | Rufous leave by mid September | Western OR keep up year-round |
| Pennsylvania | Ruby-throated | Late September | Mid October |
| Rhode Island | Ruby-throated | Mid September | October 1 |
| South Carolina | Ruby-throated | Late October | November 15* |
| South Dakota | Ruby-throated | Mid September | October 1 |
| Tennessee | Ruby-throated | Mid October | November 1 |
| Texas | Ruby-throated, Black-chinned | November | Keep one up all winter* |
| Utah | Black-chinned, Broad-tailed | Late September | Mid October |
| Vermont | Ruby-throated | Early September | Late September |
| Virginia | Ruby-throated | Early October | Late October |
| Washington | Anna's (west), Rufous | Rufous leave by mid September | Western WA keep up year-round |
| West Virginia | Ruby-throated | Late September | Mid October |
| Wisconsin | Ruby-throated | Mid September | October 1 |
| Wyoming | Rufous, Broad-tailed | Early September | Late September |
* Winter hummingbirds (often Rufous and other western species) regularly appear in Gulf and southern coastal states. Keeping one clean feeder up through winter can host these rare visitors.
Why you should NOT take feeders down early
The old worry — "my feeder will stop them from migrating" — is a myth. Migration is triggered by shortening day length, not by food. Taking a feeder down early actually removes a critical fuel stop: a hummingbird almost doubles its body weight before crossing the Gulf of Mexico, and late-season juveniles need every calorie. Your feeder in late September may matter more than in July. For the bigger seasonal picture, see our hummingbird migration map.
Fall feeder checklist
- Keep nectar fresh — cooler weather still means changing it every 3–5 days (see our nectar calculator for the exact recipe).
- Watch for stragglers — juveniles and northern migrants pass through 2–4 weeks after "your" birds leave.
- Two-week rule — after your last sighting, leave it up 14 more days.
- Deep-clean before storage — hot water, bottle brush, vinegar soak for mold, air-dry, store indoors.
- Switch your yard to fall mode — suet, seed and fresh water keep chickadees, woodpeckers and finches coming all winter.
Keep your backyard busy after the hummingbirds leave
Woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees flock to suet once insects vanish.
Check price on AmazonOpen water in freezing weather attracts more winter birds than any feeder.
Check price on AmazonWatch juncos and finches from inches away all winter long.
Check price on AmazonDeep-clean your hummingbird feeder properly before it goes in the closet.
Check price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, Birdiy earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Does leaving a feeder up delay migration?
No — that's a myth. Day length triggers migration, not food. A feeder left up helps late migrants refuel; it cannot make a healthy bird stay.
When exactly should I take my feeder down?
Two weeks after your last hummingbird sighting. Use the state table above for your typical window.
Should I keep a feeder up all winter in the South or on the West Coast?
Yes — Gulf Coast states host wintering western hummingbirds, and Anna's Hummingbirds live on the Pacific Coast year-round.
What if I see a hummingbird in November or December?
Keep feeding it — it's likely a western vagrant such as a Rufous. In freezing weather, bring the feeder in overnight and rehang it at first light.
When do feeders go back up in spring?
One to two weeks before your state's typical spring arrival — early March on the Gulf Coast through early May in the far north. Our spring migration calendar is coming soon.
How do I store the feeder over winter?
Disassemble fully, scrub with hot water, soak mold in diluted vinegar, rinse, air-dry completely, and store indoors.
Related hummingbird guides
Hummingbird Migration Map
Where hummingbirds are right now, and how the seasonal wave moves across America.
Read guide → 🌲Anna's Hummingbird
The West Coast species that never leaves — the reason you keep feeders up all winter there.
Read guide → 🐦Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The eastern migrant crossing the Gulf of Mexico — and why it needs your late-season feeder.
Read guide →More free bird tools
Hummingbird Nectar Calculator
The exact 4:1 recipe sized to your feeder — cups, tbsp and grams.
Use tool → 🏠Birdhouse Dimensions Calculator
Exact hole size and box dimensions for any backyard species.
Coming this month 🌻Bird Seed Calculator
How much seed your feeders need per month, and what it costs.
Coming this month