Hummingbird Migration in New York: 2026 Timing

Q: When do hummingbirds leave New York?

Adult males start south around August 18; the main departure wave passes about September 12, and the last stragglers — usually juveniles — trickle through until October 5.

Q: When should I take my hummingbird feeders down in New York?

Around October 20 — roughly two weeks after the typical last sighting. Leaving feeders up does NOT stop birds from migrating (day length triggers migration, not food); a late feeder only helps stragglers refuel.

Q: When do hummingbirds arrive in New York?

First males typically show up around April 20, with most feeders active by May 10. Put feeders out a week or two before the first typical arrival — early birds arrive hungry.

Q: What hummingbird species live in New York?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (breeding, late April–early October).

Q: What is the correct hummingbird nectar recipe?

One part plain white sugar to four parts water. No red dye (unnecessary and possibly harmful), no honey (ferments into toxins), no sugar substitutes. Change nectar every 2–3 days in warm weather, every 4–5 in cool weather, and rinse the feeder with hot water each refill.

Q: Why did my hummingbirds suddenly disappear in midsummer?

Almost always nesting, not leaving. Females go quiet while incubating and switch to insects for protein; males guard flower territories away from feeders. Traffic typically roars back in late summer when fledged juveniles and early migrants arrive together.

Arrivals ~April 20 · peak departure ~September 12 · feeders down ~October 20.

Departure underway — stragglers through October 5

First arrivals

Apr 20

Peak departure

Sep 12

Feeders down

Oct 20

The New York hummingbird season at a glance

Live · updates daily

Today

Typical hummingbird season in New York, first arrival to last straggler. Individual years shift ±1–2 weeks with weather.

April 20

First males

feeders busy by May 10

August 18

Males depart

adults leave first

September 12

Main wave south

October 5

Last stragglers

feeders down October 20

Adirondack birds clear out by early September while NYC-area gardens hold migrants into October — New York's departure runs downhill and downstate.

Your dates

Hummingbird dates for your exact ZIP

The dates above are for New York as a whole. Enter a ZIP code for the arrival, departure and feeder dates at that location:

The season, phase by phase

How the New York season unfolds

Arrival · April 20 males first

Adult males arrive ahead of females to claim territory. Have feeders out 1–2 weeks before April 20 — the earliest birds arrive depleted, and a ready feeder can anchor them to your yard for the season.

Nesting · May 10 onward quiet weeks

Feeder traffic often dips while females nest — they're eating small insects for protein and staying close to the nest. The birds haven't left; they're busy. Keep nectar fresh through the lull.

The rush · August 18–September 12 peak chaos

The best feeder weeks of the year: local families plus southbound migrants stack up together, all trying to double their body weight for the trip. A busy yard can drain a feeder daily. Adult males slip out first.

Last calls · through October 5 stragglers

Juveniles and late movers trickle through until October 5. Leave feeders up until October 20 — about two weeks past the typical last bird — as a refueling stop for stragglers.

Female calliope hummingbird feeding two chicks in a lichen-covered nest — The midsummer "disappearance," explained: a walnut-sized nest, two chicks, and a female hunting insects instead of visiting your feeder.

Who you’re watching

Hummingbird species in New York

Species	Status in New York
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	breeding, late April–early October

East of the Great Plains, the ruby-throated hummingbird carries the entire show — the only breeding hummingbird in the eastern US, wintering in Mexico and Central America, with many crossing the Gulf of Mexico in a single 18–22 hour nonstop flight.

Ruby-throated hummingbird feeding at common milkweed — A ruby-throated hummingbird refuels — the species that carries the entire eastern migration on its back.

Feeder protocol

Feeding New York’s hummingbirds, done right

The only recipe

1 part white sugar : 4 parts water. Nothing else — no red dye, no honey (it ferments into toxins), no substitutes. Red on the feeder does the attracting.

Keep it clean

Change nectar every 2–3 days in warm weather and rinse with hot water each refill. Cloudy nectar or black mold can be lethal — when in doubt, dump it.

The calendar

Hang feeders around April 8 (about two weeks before first arrivals); take them down around October 20. Migration runs on day length, so a feeder never delays a bird.

Hummingbird drinking at a glass bottle feeder against an open sky — Any feeder works if the nectar is fresh — the 1:4 sugar-water inside matters infinitely more than the hardware around it.

Derived from New York’s dates

Your New York feeder calendar

Every date below is computed from New York’s own arrival and departure anchors — no generic advice, these are your dates:

Feeder task	Typical New York date	Why then
Hang feeders	April 8	~2 weeks before first arrivals (April 20) — early males arrive depleted
Expect the nesting lull	May 10 onward	Females switch to insects; traffic dips but the birds haven’t left
Add a second feeder	August 4	~2 weeks before departures begin — migrants stack on top of locals
Peak nectar demand	August 18 – September 12	Birds double body weight for the trip; busy yards drain a feeder daily
Take feeders down	October 20	~2 weeks after the last stragglers (October 5)

Beyond the feeder

Plant a yard in New York they’ll fight over

Feeders are the appetizer; flowers and the small insects they attract are the meal. These eastern natives carry a yard through the August 18–October 5 migration crush:

Jewelweed (the #1 wild migration fuel)
Cardinal flower
Bee balm (Monarda)
Trumpet honeysuckle
Salvia — annual and perennial

Wild bergamot (bee balm) blooming at a meadow edge — Wild bergamot — the native bee balm. One established patch outdraws any feeder in New York by midsummer.

Skip pesticides where you can — hummingbirds feed heavily on gnats, fruit flies, and spiders, especially females raising young.

Common questions

New York hummingbird FAQ

When do hummingbirds leave New York?

When should I take my hummingbird feeders down in New York?

When do hummingbirds arrive in New York?

What hummingbird species live in New York?

What is the correct hummingbird nectar recipe?

Why did my hummingbirds suddenly disappear in midsummer?

Trumpet creeper blossoms — tubular flowers shaped for hummingbird bills — Tubular flowers like trumpet creeper co-evolved with hummingbird bills — plant one this fall and next season’s birds will find it.

Keep planning

The rest of your backyard season

New York fall foliagePeak color October 5–October 22 — right as the birds head south.New York first frostTypically October 5 — the freeze that ends nectar season.New York mosquito forecastWhat else is flying in your yard — and when it finally stops.

More Northeast hummingbird timing

Windows compiled from Journey North citizen-science records, eBird seasonal abundance, and Audubon/USFWS range data; individual years shift ±1–2 weeks with weather. National picture: where the birds are right now →