When to put up hummingbird feeders comes down to one rule: hang them about 2 weeks before hummingbirds normally reach your area, which means February on the Gulf Coast and late April in the Midwest. Going early is safe, because feeders do not delay migration. Going late means missing the scouts.
Hang feeders about 2 weeks before the first birds arrive
Use your local arrival window, not a fixed calendar date. Find the typical first-sighting date for your area, subtract 14 days, and hang a clean feeder with fresh nectar that day.
Worked example: if ruby-throated hummingbirds usually show up around April 25 where you live, hang the feeder on April 11.
Why early is the safer side of the rule:
- Scouts and adult males arrive first and are hunting for food right after a long flight. Some fly up to 3,000 miles in spring.
- A feeder that is already up gets found and remembered. Birds often return to the same yards year after year.
- Feeders do not keep birds from migrating. Day length and instinct drive the trip, not your nectar.
The cost of being early is a few extra nectar changes. The cost of being late is a missed first week. If you are shopping for a feeder before the season, see our picks for the best bird feeders for hummingbirds.
Spring timing by region
These are typical windows, not guarantees. Arrival shifts by a week or more with weather, elevation and the species in your area.
| Region | Typical first arrivals | Hang feeders |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast and Gulf Coast | Late February to March (ruby-throated reach Florida, Georgia and parts of Texas) | February |
| Southwest | March to April | Early to mid-March |
| West and Northwest | January to February (Allen’s on the California coast and southern Oregon; rufous moving up the coast from February) | January to February |
| Midwest and North | Late April to early May | Mid-April |
The Northeast generally falls in the same late April to early May window as the northern Midwest, so mid-April is a good hang date there too. A few early birds can show up sooner, which is another reason to lean early.
Fewer than two dozen of the roughly 366 hummingbird species ever migrate into the U.S. and Canada. Which one you get depends on where you live: ruby-throated in the East, Allen’s and rufous along the West Coast, and several species in the Southwest.
How to tell when hummingbirds will arrive in your area
A quick lookup beats guessing. Do this once in late winter:
- Open the Journey North hummingbird migration map and look at where the reported sightings are right now.
- Check eBird for recent hummingbird reports in your county. A bar chart of past years shows the week sightings usually begin.
- Ask your local Audubon chapter or nature center what first-arrival dates they have seen.
- Pick the earliest typical date, subtract 14 days, and put that on your calendar.
- Once birds appear on the map a few hundred miles south of you, make sure your feeder is already out.
Decision rule: if you are between two possible dates, choose the earlier one. A feeder that waits two weeks for visitors costs you almost nothing, while a missed arrival cannot be undone.
Also report your own first sighting. Those reports are what make the maps useful for the next person.
When to take hummingbird feeders down in fall
Take feeders down about 2 weeks after your last hummingbird sighting. That is roughly mid-October in northern regions and mid-November in southern ones. Some stragglers in Ohio and the Great Lakes can linger into early October, so do not pull the feeder at the first cold night.
Leaving it up that extra 2 weeks helps late migrants and young birds that are still moving south. It does not trap them. Birds that are ready to leave will leave.
Fall checklist:
- Keep changing nectar on schedule until the feeder comes down.
- Do a final deep clean, dry the parts fully, and store them indoors.
- Write down your last sighting date. It tells you when to expect them next fall and helps you judge spring timing.
Can you leave hummingbird feeders up year-round?
In mild areas, yes. Along the Gulf Coast and in southern California, some hummingbirds stay through winter, and Anna’s hummingbirds are the best-known winter residents on the West Coast. If you see birds in December, keep a feeder going.
In cold climates, there is no reason to leave one out once migrants are gone. Nectar will not be used and can ferment or freeze.
Cold snaps and late frost in spring:
- Keep the feeder up. Early arrivals may be arriving before flowers bloom, so your nectar may be their main food.
- Watch for freezing. Frozen nectar is useless. Bring the feeder in overnight and rehang it at first light, or keep a spare to swap in.
- Hang it in a sheltered, sunny spot out of the wind. Our guide to the best place to put a bird feeder covers distances from windows and cover.
Nectar and cleaning basics for the season
Use only plain white table sugar and water, mixed 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Never use honey, artificial sweeteners or red dye. Cool the mix fully before filling, and store extra in the refrigerator.
How often to change nectar depends on the heat. These are common rules of thumb:
| Outdoor temperature | Change nectar |
|---|---|
| Above 85°F | Every 1 to 2 days |
| 70°F to 85°F | Every 2 to 3 days |
| Below 70°F | Every 4 to 5 days |
In hot weather nectar can spoil in 1 to 3 days. Cloudy liquid, floating specks or black mold means dump it right away.
Clean the feeder with hot water or a mild vinegar or dish soap solution, scrub the ports with a small brush, and rinse well so no soap remains. Do a full clean at least every other refill. Our step-by-step guide on how to clean a bird feeder walks through it.
Two more precautions: keep the feeder away from windows or add decals to prevent collisions, and hang it where cats and other predators cannot reach.
Our Top Picks
Ready to shop? These are the top-rated options from our hands-on roundup, Best Bird Feeder For Hummingbirds of 2026.
GreteGotye Glass Hummingbird Feeder 26 oz
More Birds Ruby Hummingbird Feeder 10 oz Glass
Birds Choice Best-1 32oz Hummingbird Feeder
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Frequently Asked Questions
How early is too early to put out a hummingbird feeder?
It is hard to be too early. Hanging a feeder 2 to 3 weeks before your first expected arrival costs only a few nectar changes and makes sure early scouts find food. Just keep the nectar fresh even if no birds have shown up yet.
Does leaving feeders up keep hummingbirds from migrating?
No. Migration is triggered by day length and instinct, not by food supply. Feeders can help late migrants refuel in fall, so leaving yours up for about 2 weeks after the last sighting is helpful, not harmful.
What if I put the feeder out and no birds come?
Be patient and keep the nectar fresh. Birds may not have reached your area yet, so check the Journey North map. Move the feeder to a more visible, sheltered spot near flowers if a few weeks pass after the usual arrival date.
Should I leave a feeder up in winter if I live in the South?
Yes, if you still see hummingbirds. Gulf Coast and southern California yards can host winter residents such as Anna’s hummingbirds. Keep changing the nectar on schedule, and bring the feeder in overnight if temperatures drop low enough to freeze it.
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