A look back at this spring's hummingbird migration

We’re in the heart (and heat) of summer, and with the hummingbird migration well behind us, it’s a good time to take a look at this spring’s movement. Let’s take a walk through the important markers of this year’s migration.

Before March 1: Limited sightings

We received seven reports of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the United States throughout February, but most sightings didn’t come in before March.

Avis in Tarpon Springs, Florida, reported one on Feb. 24, writing that it had visited passionvine and a feeder: “Funny she’s here so early. Even though we had so many hurricanes in 2024, I had one that was here until end of November! I wonder if she wintered somewhere close like Miami and came back?”

March 1: Rufous hummingbirds reach the PNW 

On March 1, the first report of a Rufous Hummingbird was received in the Pacific Northwest, with Bruce reporting it from Eastsound, Washington, nearly two weeks earlier than the year prior:

“I started seeing glimpses of a hummingbird with buff colored shoulders 3/1/25, but didn’t have a full frontal ID until today 3/3,” Bruce wrote. “It’s a pugnacious thing that’s causing a stir among the resident Anna’s. Their dynamic confrontations were what first clued me in to the possibility of new birds in town.”

March 2-15: Sightings pick up in the southern U.S.

Sightings really picked up in March. In the first two weeks of the month, we received reports from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Amy in Patterson, Louisiana, reported a male on March 2, with a temperature of 53°F, but not much blooming following a January freeze.

“Male at my honeysuckle vine at 3:30 p.m.,” wrote Anna in Homosassa, Florida, on March 10: “eight days earlier than last year!”

March 21: Moving into Kentucky and North Carolina 

Later in the month, the Ruby-throated migration took a jump forward with sightings reaching Kentucky and North Carolina on March 21, with Matilda reporting a sighting in Caneyville, Kentucky, and Cyndi reporting one in New Bern, North Carolina, writing that a male had visited: “Arrived ten days earlier this year!”

The southernmost report from the U.S. this spring was in Brownsville, Texas, where Chery photographed a hummingbird on March 21.

March 22-25: First Rufous Hummingbird in BC

Three more sightings followed in North Carolina the next day (March 22), along with one from Tennessee. The same day, our first Rufous Hummingbird was spotted in British Columbia by Kat in Pitt Meadows.

On March 25, a Ruby-throated sighting was recorded in Oklahoma.

April 2: Virginia and New Jersey sightings

Our first sighting came in from Virginia on April 2, with Kathy in Dewitt writing, “Welcome back!” The same day, we received a report from Tina in Trenton, New Jersey, who reported seeing one flying away from a feeder. This report would prove to precede any other sighting from the Garden State by 12 days.

April 4: Alaska’s first Rufous

Alaska’s first Rufous Hummingbird report came in from Bob in Craig, Alaska, with Bob writing of a “frumpy-looking” male a few days after deploying a feeder on April 1.

April 6: Maryland and Delaware’s first reports

DiAnn in Pocomoke City, Maryland, reported the state’s first hummingbird sighting on April 6, a male at the feeder. On the same day, Delaware’s first was spotted in Georgetown. “Glad to see them back,” Kate in Georgetown wrote.

Rick in Highlandville, Missouri, reported the Show-Me State’s second observation, a few days after the first report on April 3.

April 14: Into Indiana

A pair of sightings in Indiana, including one from Nancy in Odon, put the first map dots in the Hoosier State on April 14.

We also received our first Massachusetts report on April 14, with Carolyn’s sighting in Taunton preceding any other sighting by nearly a week.

April 17-18: Hummingbirds reach the Midwestern capitals

In Guilford, Connecticut, Pamela reported a male hummingbird on April 17. “Very exciting,” Pamela wrote. “I think this matches our earliest recorded first sighting. The hummingbirds are bringing us a very welcome warm spell too.”

One day later, in Journey North’s home base of Madison, Wisconsin, Jean reported seeing one, submitting Wisconsin’s first report of the season. In another midwestern capital city, Christopher in Lansing reported Michigan’s first hummingbird on April 18 as well, writing, “We heard a hummingbird past us when we [stood] a few feet from my Japanese Quince in my backyard.”

April 18 was also the date of Pennsylvania’s first two sightings.

April 19: New record for one New York volunteer

“In 13 years of collecting data, this is the earliest ever,” Michael in Bohemia, New York wrote on April 19. “He beat all other years by four days. Welcome back!” 

In Long Branch, New Jersey, Sara wrote, “We had our 1st Ruby-throated hummer on Sat 4/19, 3 days earlier than last year's first. We were happily watching this guy at our backyard feeder when a 2nd male zoomed by. So great having them back, and like another post mentioned, it's timed with our redbud tree blooming!”

Nebraska’s first report also came on April 19 from Dave in Morse Bluff. Just north of the Nebraska-South Dakota border, Rodg in Yankton reported one on April 22.

April 21: A sighting from one of Canada’s southern islands

Canada’s first report was passed along by Don Davis, forwarding a report from Allesandra Kite at Fish Point Provincial Nature Center on Pelee Island, which is further north than only Middle Island, as far as Canada goes. The next report from Canada was on March 24 in Sarnia, on the mainland. 

April 23-25: Moving northeast

In Wiscasset, Maggie dropped the first map dot in Maine on April 23. Diane reported New Hampshire’s first hummingbird from Auburn on April 24, writing, “They are here!!!” Several more volunteers from New Hampshire added their sightings on April 25.

April 29-May 2: More provinces report sightings 

On April 29, two separate sightings were reported in Quebec.

A week after the first sighting in Maine, Nova Scotia joined the party with a sighting from Anne in Chester Basin. New Brunswick’s first reported sighting was made by Jan in Moncton on May 2, and Russell added a first report from Saskatchewan on the same day.

May 7: What about Manitoba and Alberta?

Manitoba’s first report came on May 7 from Colleen in Hanover. It would be 11 days before we’d hear from Alberta.

May 10-15: Pushing to the edge of their range

Hummingbirds reached the northeastern part of Nova Scotia, with Tina in Long Hill writing on May 10, “We were just talking about the hummingbirds and I looked over and there he was. It’s a cloudy day, but it’s warm out. He sat for a couple of minutes, had a quick drink, and then took off again. It’s a few days earlier than last year.”

Our northernmost sighting east of Manitoba came from Lenard in Frenchman’s Head, Ontario (latitude 50.1), on May 12. 

Further east, in Val Rita, Ontario (49.4), Ann reported one on May 15, writing, “Woohoo!!! Back home again safe and sound!!!”

June 2: This year’s northernmost report

Our northernmost report of the year came from Peter in Colinton, Alberta (latitude 54.6) on June 2. 

“I was contemplating shelving my feeder,” Peter wrote, noting that hummingbirds usually arrive 10 days earlier.

June 29: A surprise in Colorado

Showcasing that you never know what you’re going to see when birdwatching, Patrick in Colorado Springs, Colorado, reported a male Rufous Hummingbird on June 29, a ways outside of the species’ typical summer range. I remember a few winters back, there was one that spent much of the winter near Madison, Wisconsin. Rufous Hummingbirds can surprise us!

If your area didn’t make this brief rundown of an entire spring migration (or even if it did), you’ll find more detail on this spring’s migration maps. There, you'll find photos and comments from thousands of hummingbird watchers around the continent.

Thank you so much for all of your reports so far this year! We appreciate each and every one of them.