Hummingbird Migration in Indiana
When do hummingbirds arrive in Indiana?
Indiana migrating hummingbirds begin their earliest arrival in mid-March and the beginning of April on their journey north to their preferred nesting area, somewhere near their own birth. The last of the Indiana spring migrating hummingbirds are gone by early May.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds, the most common hummingbird seen in Indiana, migrate north from their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America.
They arrive in Indiana in the spring between mid-March to early May. Some cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single nonstop flight, while others travel along the coast.
Peak spring migration in Indiana for Ruby-throated hummingbirds occurs in April and the later migrants arrive in May.
Some hummingbirds start their spring migration from as far south as Panama, about 3,500 miles away from Indiana.
These hummingbirds must start their spring migration in February to arrive in Indiana at the end of March or beginning of April.
Some hummingbirds start their spring migration from Mexico, about 1,500 miles from Indiana. These hummingbirds can delay the start of their northern migration but their arrival to Indiana will be the same as their more southern relatives.
The first migrating hummingbirds will be males followed by the females about a week later. The males arrive first to stake out his territory that he will defend as he tries to attract a female.
Keep your eye out for the brightly colored gorget of the male, the females will start showing up at your feeders about a week later.
See my article:
How to Identify a Hummingbird’s Gender in 4 Easy Steps

Zinnia Plant
Photo by: Mz13hummingbirds

Zinnia Plant
Photo by: Mz13hummingbirds
According to Purdue University of Forestry and Natural Resources in West Lafayette Indiana, the Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only species that breed and nest in Indiana and nest east of the Mississippi River.
All other hummingbirds seen in Indiana are just passing through to continue their journey North into the eastern half of the United States all the way into Canada to their nesting destination.
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.
The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that nests in Indiana. On average they raise two families per year. 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 my hummingbird feeders in Indiana?
Hummingbird enthusiasts in Indiana should put up their hummingbird feeders in mid-to-late March to be ready and attract the arrival of early migrants.
In Indiana, put out your hummingbird feeder in mid-to-late March or approximately two weeks before their expected arrival. Their peak spring migration is from late April to early May as they migrate north from their wintering grounds in Central America.
Some Indiana 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 Indiana.
See my article: 11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing

Photo by: mz13hummingbirds
How long do hummingbirds stay in Indiana?
The first migrating hummingbirds arrive in Indiana in mid-March and the last migrating hummingbirds are usually gone by early October.
Some Rufous and Anna’s hummingbirds occasionally overwinter in Indiana.
Hummingbirds stay in Indiana from mid-March during spring migration to early October through fall migration. The exact timing depends on the season and the age and sex of the birds.
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

Red Bee Balm – (Monarda didyma)
Photo by: Andy Raupp
Peak spring migrating hummingbirds arrive in late April to early May, where the males arrive first to establish territories and the females follow a week or two later.
During the breeding season, Ruby-throated hummingbirds remain in Indiana to mate, build nests, and raise their young.
As summer sets in, the number of spring migrating hummingbirds that visit Indiana feeders will decrease.
Migrating seasonal Ruby-throated hummingbirds in Indiana brave through the heat and humidity and will be the vast majority of hummingbirds seen in Indiana’s summer months.
See my article:
How to Help Hummingbirds in Hot Weather
When the obstacles of summer heat are difficult to manage and unbearable, finding ways to keep your hummingbirds happy and hydrated with cool nectar is crucial.
See my article:
How to Cool Hummingbird Nectar in Hot Weather
Fall migration begins as early as July through late August to early September and most hummingbirds will be gone from Indiana by October.
Some Rufous, Anna’s or migrating hummingbirds that are too injured or old to migrate are the only hummingbirds people from Indiana may see in the winter.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
When do hummingbirds leave Indiana?
Hummingbirds that choose to migrate south from Indiana to Mexico and Central America for the winter start as early as late-July and most migrators are gone by October.
Migration timing varies by age and sex for each hummingbird.
According to Purdue University, Ruby-throated hummingbirds remain throughout the summer in Indiana and can begin fall migration as early as late-July.
Some Rufous and Anna’s hummingbirds and some migrating hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate occasionally overwinter in Indiana.
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.
How long does it take an Indiana hummingbird to migrate?
It takes an Indiana hummingbird about 50 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30 mph to fly from Indiana 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

Red Bee Balm – (Monarda didyma)
Photo by: Andy Raupp
When should I take down my hummingbird feeders in Indiana?
Take down hummingbird feeders in Indiana by October or after there have been no consistent hummingbirds at the feeder for a couple of weeks.
Feeders can be up all winter to feed some overwintering, migrating or injured hummingbirds, but removal in mid-winter can be fatal.
The dilemma every hummingbird enthusiast struggles with every year is leaving the hummingbird feeders up all year or taking them down during the winter.
Either way is ok, as long as it is consistent.
The best time to take down hummingbird feeders in October is a rule that only applies to those who choose to take down their feeders every year.
However, many choose to leave their feeders up to supply life-sustaining nectar to migratory species that are unable to travel due to injury or old age, as well as some Rufous and Anna’s hummingbirds that choose to spend the winter in Indiana.
See my article:
Should I Keep My Hummingbird Feeder Out During the Winter?
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
Where do Indiana hummingbirds go in the winter?
Indiana’s migrating hummingbirds travel south to winter in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
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 Indiana: (Pictures and Sounds)
Happy Hummingbird Watching!