When to Put Out Hummingbird Feeders, by Region

Hummingbird timing varies enormously by region, and putting a feeder out on the wrong week is the most common reason people think they have none.

The rule: put it out two weeks before they are expected, so it is already waiting when the first birds arrive. Early birds are scouting, and a feeder that appears after they have passed through has missed them.

Gulf Coast and the Deep South

Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds begin arriving in late February to early March, sometimes earlier on the coast. Put feeders out in mid-February.

Parts of the Gulf Coast and south Florida hold hummingbirds year-round, and there is a growing winter population of western species \u2014 rufous in particular \u2014 along the Gulf. Leaving a feeder up through winter here is genuinely worthwhile.

Mid-Atlantic and lower Midwest

Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, southern Ohio and Indiana.

Expect first arrivals in mid to late April. Feeders out at the start of April.

Northeast and upper Midwest

New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota.

Ruby-throats arrive early to mid May. Feeders out in late April.

They leave again by late September, though stragglers pass through into October.

Mountain West

Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho.

Broad-tailed hummingbirds arrive late April into May, and rufous pass through on migration in mid to late summer \u2014 often the most dramatic activity of the year.

Elevation matters more than latitude here. Higher ground runs weeks behind the valleys.

Pacific Northwest

Washington, Oregon, northern California.

Rufous hummingbirds arrive March into early April. But the significant point is Anna's hummingbird, which is now resident year-round along much of the coast and into the Puget Sound area.

If you are in this region, keep your feeder up all winter. Anna's overwinter and depend on feeders during cold snaps. In freezing weather you may need to rotate two feeders so one is always thawed.

Southwest

Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, southern Nevada.

The richest region in the country for species diversity \u2014 Anna's, black-chinned, Costa's, broad-billed and more, with several present year-round.

Feeders up by February, and in much of this region simply leave them up. Southeast Arizona in late summer is arguably the best hummingbird watching in the United States.

The autumn myth

Leaving a feeder up late does not stop hummingbirds migrating. Migration is triggered by day length, not food supply. A bird that needs to go will go.

What a late feeder does is help stragglers, injured birds and late-hatched young that need fuel for the journey. Take it down a couple of weeks after your last sighting, not before.

Wherever you are

Change the nectar every two to five days depending on temperature, keep it dye-free, and put it somewhere you can see. First arrival dates shift year to year with weather \u2014 if in doubt, go early.