Hummingbirds are a beloved sign of spring and summer in New England. Their arrival brings color and life to backyards and gardens after the gray days of winter. But exactly when do these tiny birds return each year? The timing of hummingbird migration is dependent on many factors, but generally follows a predictable pattern.
Hummingbird Migration Overview
Hummingbirds that breed in the eastern United States and Canada migrate south to Mexico and Central America for the winter. As days lengthen and temperatures warm in spring, they begin the long journey back north. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the most common species seen in New England. They depart their winter grounds as early as January and may start to arrive along the U.S. Gulf Coast by late February. From there, they move northward following the blooming of flowers and emergence of insects.
By March, earliest arriving Ruby-throated Hummingbirds may reach the southernmost parts of the U.S. East Coast including southern Florida. But most individuals arrive in New England a bit later, in April or May. Here is a general timetable for when to expect hummingbirds in each New England state:
| State | Average Arrival Date |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | Mid April to Early May |
| Maine | Late April to Mid May |
| Massachusetts | Mid April to Early May |
| New Hampshire | Mid April to Early May |
| Rhode Island | Mid April to Early May |
| Vermont | Late April to Mid May |
As this table shows, most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive at their breeding grounds in New England between mid-April and mid-May. However, it is important to note that these are just average time frames. In some years, the first individuals may show up a bit earlier or later depending on weather and other conditions during migration.
Factors Affecting Arrival Time
What controls the timing of hummingbird migration and arrival in New England each spring? Here are some key factors:
Temperature
Warmer temperatures provide more food resources and allow hummingbirds to conserve energy, so early heat waves may prompt especially early arrivals. But if cold temperatures and storms persist into April, it can delay hummingbirds until more favorable conditions prevail.
Food Availability
Hummingbirds depend on flower nectar and insects for food. They tend to arrive in northern areas when their key food plants begin blooming and insects emerge. The timing of spring flowering is heavily influenced by temperatures. An unusually warm or cold spring will affect food resources and thus hummingbird migration schedules.
Competition
Because hummingbirds are territorial and compete for breeding areas, timing their arrival to coincide with competitors may be advantageous. Males tend to arrive before females to establish territories. Older, more experienced birds often arrive before younger ones as well.
Genetics
Migration timing is inherited rather than learned. Individual birds possess an internal clock and respond to changing day length that triggers migration at appropriate times. Some birds are genetically predisposed to arrive earlier or later in the season.
Weather During Migration
Severe weather like storms, winds, and cold temperatures can slow or stop migrating hummingbirds. Favorabletailwinds and warm conditions allow faster travel. Weather patterns encountered en route will impact how quickly hummingbirds complete their spring migration.
Arrival by State
Let’s take a closer look at when ruby-throats typically show up in each of the New England states:
Connecticut
In Connecticut, ruby-throated hummingbirds generally arrive between mid-April and early May. They may start to appear as early as late March in warm years or arrive in early June during colder springs. Birds usually appear first along the coast and in southwestern Connecticut, then gradually spread inland and northward across the state over the next few weeks.
Maine
Maine marks the northern limits of the ruby-throat breeding range in eastern North America. Here they arrive from late April through mid-May depending on latitude, elevation, and weather conditions. Coastal southern Maine may see the first arrivals in late April, while northern and interior areas often see the first birds in early to mid-May.
Massachusetts
The average arrival window for ruby-throats in Massachusetts is mid-April to early May. Early arrivals occur along the coast of Cape Cod where birds may show up in late March or early April during warm springs. The birds then progress inland and northward across the state over the next few weeks, reaching the Berkshires and northern Massachusetts by early May.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is another more northerly state where ruby-throats do not usually arrive until mid-April to early May on average. However, early arrivals may appear by mid-April or late April in especially warm years. The birds follow a similar pattern as other states, first appearing along the southern coast then moving northward through the interior in the coming weeks.
Rhode Island
Being the southernmost New England state and largely coastal, Rhode Island sees ruby-throats arriving a bit earlier on average than other states in the region. The first birds usually show up in mid-April to early May, with occasional late March sightings in warm years. The birds spread from coastal areas to inland locations over the next few weeks.
Vermont
Vermont is the most northern and elevated state in New England, which delays the arrival of ruby-throated hummingbirds compared to coastal and southern areas. Most years the first ruby-throats appear across Vermont in late April to mid-May. During colder springs, early June arrivals are not uncommon in the northern mountains.
Variation Between Years
Keep in mind that the arrival dates listed for each state are just general averages and approximate time frames. In any given year, the birds may arrive somewhat earlier or later depending on regional weather patterns and temperatures that year. Here are some examples of yearly variation:
- In 2012, an unusually warm March and April caused very early arrivals, with ruby-throats spotted in all New England states by mid-April.
- After a cold spring in 2014, the first ruby-throats did not reach northern Vermont and New Hampshire until the third week of May.
- In 2018, nor’easters and chilly weather meant most ruby-throats held off reaching interior northern areas until early June.
So the exact timing of arrivals can shift earlier or later by two weeks or more depending on spring weather conditions. It is impossible to predict exact arrival dates very far in advance.
Conclusion
Though hummingbird migration follows general annual patterns, there is significant variation in precise arrival dates both across New England and between years. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds typically begin arriving along coastal southern New England in mid to late April, then gradually spread across interior and northern areas from late April through May. However, due to factors like spring temperatures and weather, arrivals may occur significantly earlier or later in any given year by weeks or more. The best approach is to have feeders up and watching for them by early April in southern New England and mid-April further north.
