Hummingbird Migration in Georgia

Ten common questions regarding the migration of Georgia hummingbirds are discussed in this article.

When do hummingbird arrive in Georgia?

The earliest arrivals of Georgia hummingbirds are seen in early March, with peak migration occurring in April and May.
Georgia hummingbirds begin their spring migration north from as far away as Panama or as close as Mexico.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds, the most common hummingbird seen in Georgia, migrate north from their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America.
Some cross the Gulf of America in a single nonstop flight (a distance of 500 miles), while others travel along the coast.

The first migrating hummingbirds will be males, followed by females about a week later. The males arrive first to stake out the territory that they will defend as they try to attract a female.

Watch for the male’s vividly colored gorget; a week or so later, the females will begin to appear at your feeders.

Read my article:
How to Identify a Hummingbird’s Gender in 4 Easy Steps

Hummingbirds starting their spring migration from as far south as Panama need to fly about 3,500 miles to reach Georgia.
Hummingbirds starting their journey from as close as Mexico need to fly about 1,200 miles to reach Georgia.

What are the most common hummingbirds seen in Georgia?

The Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most common hummingbirds seen in Georgia, with the Rufous hummingbird being a distant second.

These are Georgia’s statistics at the beginning of
2025 as reported by ebird.org

• On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Georgia, 9,700 will be Ruby-throated.
• On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Georgia, 162 will be Rufous.

Are there Georgia hummingbirds that live in the state year-round?

There are no hummingbird species that live in Georgia year-round.
However, some Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds occasionally over winter and those that are too old or injured to migrate.
All other hummingbird species found in Georgia are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.

The general public is unaware of how cold-tolerant hummingbirds actually are.
According to eBird.org, through branding practices hummingbirds are documented to survive in temperatures of -9F and wind chills of -36F.

See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded

What hummingbirds breed and nest in Georgia?

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds and nests in Georgia.
Most Ruby-throated hummingbirds will raise two broods in Georgia but some of the early arriving or late leaving Ruby-throated hummingbirds will have enough time to raise a third brood in the same year.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR), Ruby-throated hummingbirds breed east of the Mississippi River.
They breed throughout the eastern United States as far west as eastern Texas, Oklahoma and up north to Minnesota.

The breeding season for the Ruby-throated hummingbird in Georgia is from late March through August.
Breeding map for Ruby-throated hummingbirds that breed and nest in Georgia, reported by ebird.org

The Ruby-throated hummingbird has an extensive breeding area that covers the entire eastern half of the United States and extends into Canada as far west as Alberta.

The entire reason for northern migration, much like salmon swimming upstream to their place of birth to lay eggs, is to return to the area where they were born to mate, build a nest, and raise a family.
Once the breeding grounds have been reached, focus turns to finding a partner with which to mate.

Each species of male hummingbirds has its own unique mating dance ritual of courtship to attract a female. They do perfectly choreographed dives and dance maneuvers to attract a flirty female.

See my article: 
Hummingbird Dance: 5 Interpretive Explanations

There is no penetration during the mating ritual as male hummingbirds do not have any external sexual organs.

The mating process only lasts for approximately 3-5 seconds while the cloacae (kloh-ay-see) of both hummingbirds are pressed together in what is called the “Cloacal Kiss” (kloh-a-coal kiss).

After the Cloacal kiss, the female must begin building the nest immediately.
Female hummingbirds prefer building nests 10 to 20 feet off the ground in deciduous trees.
It will take her between 5 and 7 days to construct the nest of materials such as plant down, moss, and fine plant fibers, decorated with lichens and held together by spider webs.

See my article: 
Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting)

See my article: 
Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling)

Hummingbirds usually lay 2 eggs per brood, one each on consecutive days.

On average, the Ruby-throated hummingbird will raise two families per year in Georgia.
However, there are occasions where they are able to work in an additional family for a total of three families per year.

When should I put out hummingbird feeders in Georgia?

Georgia hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in early March to attract the earliest migrating hummingbirds.
The peak spring migration period occurs in April and May, therefore having your feeders ready early will help attract these tiny travelers.

Some Georgia hummingbird enthusiasts leave their hummingbird feeders up throughout the winter to supply life-sustaining nectar to migratory species that are unable to travel due to injury or old age, as well as hummingbirds that choose to spend the winter in Georgia.

Approximately one week after the arrival of the male hummingbirds, the females will follow.

Keep feeders up throughout the hummingbird season in Georgia between early March through October.
Make sure to use high-quality nectar solutions in your hummingbird feeders; homemade nectar works best.

See my article:
Forget Commercial Hummingbird Food, Try Making Homemade Nectar

See my article:
The One Thing You Need to Eliminate From a Hummingbird’s Diet

Clean feeders regularly (every 2-3 days in hot weather) to prevent mold and bacteria.
Place feeders in partially shaded areas to keep nectar fresh longer.

How long do hummingbirds stay in Georgia?

Georgia hummingbirds stay in the state for at least seven months.
They will start arriving as early as early March and most will be gone by October.
Some hummingbirds can overwinter in Georgia, although rare, but most migrate south for the winter.
No hummingbird species live in Georgia year-round.

Hummingbird Seasons in Georgia

Season:	Activity:
Early March	First arriving (Ruby-throated)
Late March – August	Peak season for feeding, nesting, and breeding
July – October	Fall migration
November– March	Rare overwintering species (Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned)

Hummingbirds have exceptional memories and will remember every flower or feeder they visited on the spring migration and will return to those nectar sources on their return southern migration in the fall.

See my article: 
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food

The most common hummingbirds Georgians will see during the hot summer months will be the Ruby-throated hummingbird with the Rufous hummingbird being a distant second.

When the obstacles of summer heat are difficult to manage and unbearable, finding ways to keep your hummingbirds happy and hydrated with cool nectar can be critical.

See my article: 
How to Help Hummingbirds in Hot Weather

Fall migration begins in July and most hummingbirds will be gone from Georgia by October.

The general public is unaware of how tolerant hummingbirds actually are.
Some banded hummingbirds have been observed at temperatures as low as -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit, according to eBird.org.

Hummingbirds that occasionally choose to overwinter in Georgia include: some Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned, however most migrate south for the winter.

See my article: 
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing

When do hummingbirds leave Georgia?

Georgia hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as July and by October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
Some hummingbirds choose to overwinter in Georgia.
No hummingbirds live in Georgia year-round.

A few older hummingbirds will be the first to start the fall migration, depending on their strength and energy, with the youngest hummingbirds finishing the fall migration by the first week of October.

Hummingbird migration is triggered by the circadian (internal daily clock) and the circannual (yearly internal clock) rhythm.
Changes in the weather, temperature, time of season, decline in food supply and shorter days with less sunlight are factors that influence the beginning of fall migration.

Similar to spring migration, male hummingbirds are the first to leave and head south for the winter during fall migration.
As soon as the female hummingbirds have finished raising their young and can travel independently, they will set out on their southern fall migration.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR), Rufous hummingbirds are the most commonly seen wintering hummingbird in Georgia.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep at least one feeder available during the winter to accommodate these hummingbirds.

Some Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds choose to overwinter in Georgia, even though it is rare.
Some migrating hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate south for the winter can also choose to overwinter in the state.

How long does it take a Georgia hummingbird to Migrate?

It takes a Georgia hummingbird about 50 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30 mph to fly from Georgia to the Mexican border 1,500 miles away.
Some fly at a relaxed distance as slow as 1 hour a day, others can fly 500 miles non-stop in about 20 hours, as some do while migrating across the Gulf of Mexico.

Hummingbirds do not migrate in flocks as do other migrating birds.
Hummingbirds migrate individually on their own personal time clock.
This staggered migration pattern ensures resources are not consumed and depleted all at one time.

As migration approaches, hummingbirds routinely gain 25% to 50% of their body weight by consuming increased quantities of nectar from feeders and flowering plants as well as catching an increased quantity of bugs mid-air for protein.
This increase in body fat helps fuel the hummingbird on its long migration journey.

The hummingbirds that visited your feeders during the spring migration will remember exactly where your feeder is located and will most likely revisit that same feeder on their way to their over-wintering area in Mexico and Central America.

Maintaining feeders is critical in order to maximize food consumption that nourishes and prepares their bodies for migration.

See my article: 
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food

When should I take down hummingbird feeders in Georgia?

Take down feeders in Georgia in mid-to-late-November or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings.
Feeders are left up all winter by some Georgians to feed rare overwintering hummingbirds, the Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds, and those that are too old or injured to migrate.

Leaving feeders up will not stop hummingbirds from migrating.
They migrate based on daylight length and instinct, not feeder availability.

Hummingbirds are much more tolerant of cold temperatures than most people realize.
They depend on these wintertime feeders and may can die if hummingbird feeders are taken down in the middle of winter during periods of below-freezing temperatures.

According to eBird.org, some banded hummingbirds have been documented in temperatures of -9 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -36 degrees Fahrenheit.

See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing

See my article:
Should I Keep My Hummingbird Feeder Out During the Winter?

Most migrating hummingbirds will not spend the winter in Georgia and will decide to migrate south for the winter.

Where do Georgia hummingbirds go in the winter?

Georgia’s Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, Black-chinned, Buff-bellied, Broad-billed, Broad-tailed, Green-breasted Mango, Rivoli’s, and Blue-throated Mt-gem migrating hummingbirds travel south to over-winter in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Anna’s over-winter in upper Mexico and California.
Allen’s over-winter in lower Mexico and southern California.

See Georgia’s wintering hummingbirds map as reported by ebird.org
In order of frequently seen.

• Ruby-throated
• Rufous
• Calliope
• Black-chinned
• Buff-bellied
• Allen’s
• Broad-billed
• Broad-tailed
• Green-breasted Mango
• Anna’s
• Rivoli’s
• Blue-throated Mt-gem

All hummingbirds have excellent memories and can remember every flower or feeder they have visited during migration and will return to those sites along their migration pathway year after year.

Some hummingbirds have been spotted returning to a feeder for a couple of years after the feeder was removed.

See my article: 
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food

See my article: 
Hummingbirds Found in Georgia: (Pictures and Sounds)

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions