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When do hummingbirds arrive?
Hummingbirds sweep north across the continent every spring. Pick your region to see the typical arrival window and the date to hang your feeder so you catch the very first scouts — a full nectar feeder waiting for them beats one you hang after you've already seen one.
Typical arrival
Mid to late April
Hang your feeder by
Early April
This is the classic tax-season arrival for much of the middle of the country.
These are approximate, weather-dependent windows — the front moves north with the warmth each spring. Get the recipe right with the nectar calculator, and read when do hummingbirds come back and how to attract hummingbirds.
Spring timing at a glance
| Broad region | Typical arrival | Feeder out by |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf Coast & Deep South | Early–mid March | Late February |
| Mid-Atlantic & Lower Midwest | Mid–late April | Early April |
| Northeast & Upper Midwest | Late April–early May | Mid April |
| Northern tier & southern Canada | Early–mid May | Late April |
| Pacific Northwest | Rufous Feb–April; Anna’s often year-round | Mid February |
Broad planning windows, not a live forecast; weather, elevation, and species shift the date.
Need a feeder before that date?
A full feeder waiting for the first scouts is the whole point of the date above. These are our two highest-scored picks.
- First Nature Hummingbird84Bird4.5$12.07
Value-minded hosts of busy hummingbird traffic wanting a 32oz, 10-port feeder that's easy to clean.
- 4.6$28.96
Birders wanting the easy-clean saucer benchmark: unbreakable polycarbonate, built-in ant moat, and bee-resistant ports.
