Hummingbird Migration in North Dakota
Ten common questions about the migration of North Dakota hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
When do hummingbirds arrive in North Dakota?
The earliest arrivals of North Dakota hummingbirds are seen in early April and continue through May on their journey north to their preferred nesting area, somewhere near their own birth.
North Dakota hummingbirds begin their spring migration north from as far away as Panama or as close as Mexico.
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.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most commonly seen and are the first migrating hummingbirds to be seen in North Dakota.
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
Photo by: MaryLou Ziebarth
Hummingbirds starting their spring migration from Panama need to fly about 4,200 miles to reach North Dakota.
Hummingbirds starting their journey from Mexico need to fly about 1,700 miles to reach North Dakota.
What are the most common hummingbirds seen in North Dakota?
The Ruby-throated hummingbirds are by far the most common hummingbirds seen in North Dakota, with the Rufous hummingbird being a distant second.
These are North Dakota’s statistics at the beginning of 2025 as reported by ebird.org
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in North Dakota, 9,733 will be Ruby-throated.
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in North Dakota, 90 will be Rufous.
Photo by: Paula Leftwich
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Are there North Dakota hummingbirds that live in the state year-round?
There are no hummingbird species that live in North Dakota year-round.
All hummingbird species found in North Dakota are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.
The only hummingbirds that can be seen in the middle of winter are those that are too old or injured to migrate.
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 North Dakota?
The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only common summer hummingbird that breeds and nests in North Dakota, according to the United States Department of Agriculture North Dakota (USDA).
Ruby-throated – 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.
Photo by: Paula Leftwich
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 North Dakota.
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 North Dakota?
North Dakota hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in early April to attract the first migrating hummingbirds.
The peak spring migration period starts in May, therefore having your feeders ready early will help attract these tiny travelers.
Approximately one week after the arrival of the male hummingbirds, the females will follow.
Keep feeders up throughout the hummingbird season in North Dakota between early April through late September.
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.
Photo by: Paula Leftwich
Many North Dakota hummingbird admirers leave their hummingbird feeders up all winter long to provide life-nourishing nectar to hummingbird species unable to migrate due to injury or old age.
However, most of these hummingbirds will not spend the winter in North Dakota and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
How long do hummingbirds stay in North Dakota?
North Dakota hummingbirds stay in the state for at least six months.
They will start arriving in the beginning of April and most will be gone by October.
No hummingbird species live in North Dakota year-round.
Hummingbird Seasons in North Dakota
| Season: | Activity: |
| Early April | First arriving (Ruby-throated) |
| May – August | Peak season for feeding and nesting |
| Mid/Late August – October | Fall migration No overwintering hummingbirds |
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
Scarlet Bee Balm – (Monarda didyma)
Photo by: Andy Raupp
The most common North Dakota hummingbird seen during the hot summer months will be the Ruby-throated hummingbird.
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 Help Hummingbirds in Hot Weather
Fall migration begins in mid/late August and most hummingbirds will be gone from North Dakota 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 brave enough to over-winter in North Dakota or too old or injured to migrate, will be the only likely hummingbirds North Dakotans hummingbird enthusiasts will see during the winter.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
When do hummingbirds leave North Dakota?
North Dakota hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as mid/late August and by October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in North Dakota 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 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.
How long does it take a North Dakota hummingbird to migrate?
It takes a North Dakota hummingbird about 57 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from North Dakota to the Mexican border 1,700 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 4,200 miles away, will need to fly 140 hours.
Some fly at the relaxed distance as slow as 1 hour per day, others fly up to 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.
Scarlet Bee Balm – (Monarda didyma)
Photo by: Andy Raupp
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 to take down hummingbird feeders in North Dakota?
Middle of October or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove North Dakota hummingbird feeders for the winter.
Feeders are left up all winter by some North Dakotans to feed uncommon winter hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate.
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 North Dakota and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
Where do North Dakota hummingbirds go in the winter?
North Dakota’s Ruby-throated, Rufous, Calliope, Broad-tailed, and Black-chinned 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.
See North Dakota’s wintering hummingbirds map as reported by ebird.org
In order of frequently seen.
All hummingbirds have excellent memories and can remember every flower or feeder they visited during spring migration and will return to those locations along their migration pathway year after year.
Some hummingbirds have been documented returning to a feeder for a couple of years after it was removed.
See my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food
See my article:
Hummingbirds Found in North Dakota: (Pictures and Sounds)
Happy Hummingbird Watching!
