Are there hummingbirds in the northeast?

Hummingbirds are found throughout most of the United States during the summer months. The northeastern states do get hummingbird visitors, but they are less common than in warmer southern regions. Whether or not you’ll see hummingbirds in the northeast depends on a few key factors.

What types of hummingbirds live in the northeastern United States?

There are three main species of hummingbirds that breed in the northeastern United States:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Rufous Hummingbird
• Calliope Hummingbird

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common and widespread species in the eastern United States. They breed throughout the northeastern states and eastern Canada during the summer months.

Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds are western species that sometimes stray into the northeast during migration or for breeding. They are much less common than the Ruby-throated Hummingbird in this region.

When do hummingbirds arrive in the northeast?

Most hummingbirds arrive in the northeast to breed in late April or early May. Here are typical spring arrival dates for common northeastern hummingbird species:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird – late April to mid-May
• Rufous Hummingbird – mid to late May
• Calliope Hummingbird – late May

Arrival dates can vary slightly from year to year depending on weather conditions and food availability along migration routes. Males tend to arrive first to establish breeding territories, followed by females approximately 1-2 weeks later.

When do hummingbirds leave the northeast in fall?

Most hummingbirds leave the northeast by late September or sometime in October. Here are typical fall departure dates:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Mid September to early October
• Rufous Hummingbird – Late August to mid September
• Calliope Hummingbird – Mid to late September

Cold fronts and lack of food availability are triggers for birds to begin their southern migration. Individual birds may linger into November if food sources remain. By late November, virtually all hummingbirds have left the northeastern states.

What is the hummingbird population in the northeast?

Population estimates for northeastern hummingbirds:

As these numbers show, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird makes up the vast majority of the northeastern hummingbird population. The Rufous and Calliope are present in much smaller numbers.

In which northeastern states can I spot hummingbirds?

Here are the northeastern states where hummingbirds are most likely to be found in summer:

• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• Connecticut
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey
• Delaware
• Maryland

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can be found throughout the region. Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds are more likely to be spotted in coastal areas and southern parts of the northeastern states.

What is the best habitat to spot hummingbirds in the northeast?

The most promising hummingbird habitat in the northeast includes:

• Backyards and gardens with nectar feeders or native plants that attract hummingbirds
• Parks and preserves with open meadows, forests, and streams
• Flower gardens with tubular blooms like bee balm, cardinal flower, and trumpet vine
• Areas with maple and birch trees where sap oozes

Providing nectar feeders and planting hummingbird-friendly flowers is the best way to increase your chances of spotting hummingbirds.

What do hummingbirds eat in the northeast?

Northeastern hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from these sources:

• Flower Nectar – from both native and cultivated flowers such as columbines, bee balm, and trumpet vines.
• Tree Sap – they tap oozing sap from birch, maple, and other trees for carbohydrates and nutrients.
• Small Insects and Spiders – provides essential protein for metabolism and breeding.
• Artificial Nectar Feeders – sugar-water mixtures provide supplemental energy.

Field guides and native plant books are helpful for identifying natural food sources that attract hummingbirds.

How can I attract hummingbirds to my yard in the northeast?

Here are some tips to make your yard or garden more attractive to hummingbirds in the northeast:

• Put up nectar feeders – Use a homemade 1:4 ratio of sugar to water or specialized hummingbird feeder nectar.
• Plant native flowers – Cardinal flower, bee balm, columbine, and trumpet vines are great hummingbird flowers.
• Add flowering shrubs and trees – Azaleas, lilacs, and weigela attract hummingbirds.
• Provide dripping water – Hummingbirds drink and bathe in dripping misters, fountains, or sprayers.
• Avoid pesticides – Chemicals reduce the insect populations that hummingbirds rely on.
• Offer perches – They’ll use clothesline, branches, and feeder perches to rest.

With the right habitat and a little patience, you stand a good chance of being visited by these energetic little birds.

What is the size and appearance of hummingbird species found in the northeast?

Here are descriptions of the three hummingbird species found in the northeast:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

• Length: 3 to 4 inches
• Wingspan: 3 to 4.5 inches
• Weight: 2 to 6 grams
• Main color: Green above, white below
• Distinctive red throat in males
• Forked tail

Rufous Hummingbird

• Length: 3 to 3.5 inches
• Wingspan: 4 inches
• Weight: 2 to 5 grams
• Brownish-orange overall
• White breast
• Green shoulders
• Red throat in males

Calliope Hummingbird

• Length: 3 inches
• Wingspan: 4 inches
• Weight: 2 to 3 grams
• Green above, white below
• Small violet-red throat patch on males
• Shortest bill of all hummingbirds

A field guide is helpful for identifying the small differences between species based on size, color patterns, tail shape, and bill length.

Are hummingbirds protected species in the northeast?

The hummingbirds found in the northeast are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This makes it illegal to harm, harass, or kill hummingbirds without a permit.

Here are some key protections this law provides to northeastern hummingbirds:

• Protects hummingbirds from hunting, poaching, or capture.
• Makes it illegal to destroy active hummingbird nests.
• Prohibits the sale or trade of hummingbirds and their parts.
• Requires permits for banding or scientific collection.
• Prohibits possession of illegally taken hummingbirds.

Feeding, observing, and photographing hummingbirds is encouraged as a way to enjoy their presence without doing harm. Installing bird-friendly windows and keeping cats indoors helps protect hummingbirds stopping over in migration or breeding.

Conclusion

While not as abundant as in warmer regions, hummingbirds can certainly be found in many areas of the northeastern United States during spring and summer. Providing nectar feeders, planting native flowers, and improving habitat are the best ways to successfully attract hummingbirds. With some effort, the spectacular Ruby-throated, Rufous, and Calliope hummingbirds can become summer visitors.