When to Put Out (and Take Down) Hummingbird Feeders

A common rule of thumb is to hang feeders about two weeks before hummingbirds usually arrive in your area and to keep them up until you have seen none for about two weeks in fall. A feeder does not keep hummingbirds from migrating: they leave on instinct as the days get shorter.

2 guides in this collection.
Updated on October 2, 2026

Guides

A hummingbird hovering near a clean red feeder and fall tubular flowers.

When to Put Feeders Out Do Feeders Stop Hummingbirds From Migrating?

Feeders do not keep hummingbirds from migrating. The better question is how long to keep a clean feeder available for late migrants and stragglers.

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A clean red hummingbird feeder hanging near tubular spring flowers with a hummingbird hovering nearby.

When to Put Feeders Out When to Put Out Hummingbird Feeders (by Region)

Put feeders out before hummingbirds arrive, using regional spring ranges instead of one national date. This guide covers timing, fall removal, and year-round areas.

Read guide When to Put Feeders Out