Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that bring joy to backyard birdwatchers across North America. These tiny birds have huge metabolisms and rely on drinking nectar all day long to fuel their high energy needs. As summer turns to fall, hummingbird feeders provide an important source of food to help hummingbirds bulk up before migrating south for the winter.
But when is the right time to take down your hummingbird feeders? Here are some tips on knowing when to stop putting out hummingbird nectar each year.
Watch for changes in hummingbird behavior
The most obvious sign it’s time to take down your feeders is when you notice a dramatic decrease in hummingbird activity and visits to your yard. During late summer and early fall, it’s common for dozens of hummingbirds to visit nectar feeders as they build up fat stores for migration. When the crowds dissipate and you go days without seeing a single hummingbird, it’s a cue that the bulk of the birds have moved on.
Hummingbirds may stop coming to the feeders for a couple reasons. Either they have migrated already or there are enough natural food sources still available that they’ve gone to seek those out. Either way, the lack of activity around the feeders tells you the hummingbirds have moved on.
Activity around feeders decreases
At the height of summer, female hummingbirds visit feeders every 10-15 minutes to get the energy they need for their metabolisms and feeding young. As fall approaches, they become less reliant on feeders and you may only see a few stragglers coming to the nectar.
Aggressive behavior ceases
During summer, dominant male hummingbirds exhibit aggression around feeders to claim their territory. They’ll chase off intruders or display dive-bombing behavior to protect their feeder. When this behavior stops, it’s a sign the most aggressive birds have already migrated south.
Watch for freezing overnight temperatures
Hummingbirds are triggered to migrate by hormonal changes brought on by the shorter daylight hours of late summer and early fall. But cold temperatures often accelerate their departure. If freezing overnight lows hit your area, it’s a sign that warmer weather and natural food sources are limited. The hummingbirds will quickly seek warmer climates to the south.
Freezing temperatures can be dangerous for hummingbirds still in your area if nectar feeders freeze over and are unusable for food. Taking down feeders prevents relying on food sources that may freeze and become unavailable overnight.
How cold is too cold?
Temperatures below 28°F start approaching the danger zone for hummingbirds. Once the mercury dips below freezing into the mid to low 20s, it’s time to remove any remaining feeders.
Nectar and feeders can freeze at these temperatures. Hummingbirds can go into torpor overnight to conserve energy, but they need adequate food sources each day to survive cold snaps.
Tips for cold weather feeding
If hummingbirds are still around when light freezes hit, here are some tips for providing food:
- Switch to a sugar-based nectar to reduce freezing.
- Bring feeders inside overnight.
- Hang feeders in a covered location.
- Use a feeder with an antifreeze/insulated reservoir.
But once daytime highs no longer reach above freezing, it’s best to remove feeders entirely so hummingbirds don’t stick around waiting for an unreliable food source.
Watch for the absence of flowers and insects
Hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from natural nectar sources like flowers and tree sap. They also eat a fair amount of small insects, which provide essential protein in their diet. As fall arrives and flowering plants die off and bugs decline, so does the natural food supply hummingbirds rely on.
Here are some signs the natural food sources may be disappearing from your area:
- Gardens are past peak bloom
- Wildflowers have dried up
- Trees no longer have sap flows
- Flying insect populations have declined
When this happens, hummingbirds have a hard time meeting their nutritional needs to prepare for migration. This is your cue to remove feeders so they move on to warmer climates with adequate food.
Important native plants for fall food
Here are some examples of native late-blooming flowers and trees that provide essential food through early fall:
- Cardinal flower
- Trumpet honeysuckle
- Cup plant
- Native asters
- Autumn sage
- Firebush
- Turk’s cap lily
- Pineapple sage
- Rose mallow
- Flowering maples
- Sapsuckerwood
If you notice these plants have already peaked in your area, it’s one sign migrating hummingbirds have moved on.
Watch the calendar
While weather conditions and food sources offer the best clues, the calendar can serve as a general guide for when to remove your feeders.
Here are some general timeframes for taking down hummingbird feeders by region:
- Northeastern states: End of September
- Midwest states: Mid to late September
- Southern states: Early to mid-October
- Western states: Late September to mid-October
- Pacific Northwest: Mid-October
These are just general guidelines, as the migration timing varies slightly each year. Watch local conditions and hummingbird behavior to pinpoint the best time to remove your feeders.
Hummingbird migration routes
The four major migration routes in North America are:
- Western route (along the Pacific Coast)
- Central route (through the Rocky Mountains)
- Eastern route (along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast)
- Trans-Gulf route (90 mile nonstop flight across Gulf of Mexico)
Hummingbirds generally follow the same paths each year based on their breeding grounds. Western hummers migrate down the West Coast, while eastern hummers follow the Atlantic coastline or trans-Gulf route. Knowing the major migratory route for your area’s hummingbirds can help estimate when most birds will depart.
Anna’s Hummingbirds
Anna’s Hummingbirds are an exception, as they may stick around all winter in mild climates along the Pacific Coast. If you live in this region, keep an eye out for Anna’s at your feeders even in winter. But most other species should migrate by the timeframes above.
Conclusion
Determining when to take down your feeders requires paying attention to weather patterns, food sources, and activity at your feeders. While general guidelines provide a starting point, let the birds themselves tell you when it’s time to remove the feeders each fall.
With a little practice, you’ll learn the routine each year for when your yard’s buzzing population quiets down as the hummingbirds head south. Taking down feeders at the right time helps prevent stragglers from sticking around when freezing temps arrive.
Enjoy your hummingbirds while they’re around, and they’ll reward you with a busy feeder season next year after making their epic migration!
