Hummingbird Migration in Tennessee

Ten common questions about the migration of Tennessee hummingbirds are discussed in this article.

When do hummingbirds arrive in Tennessee?

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

According to Tennessee State University, the earliest spring migrants, the Ruby-throated hummingbird, arrive in Tennessee by late March and pass through until mid-May.

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 Tennessee .

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

Taken: Oneida, Tennessee

Hummingbirds starting their spring migration from Panama need to fly about 3,636 miles to reach Tennessee.

Hummingbirds starting their journey from Mexico need to fly about 1,178 miles to reach Tennessee.

What are the most common hummingbirds seen in Tennessee?

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

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

• On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Tennessee, 9,920 will be Ruby-throated.
• On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Tennessee, 40 will be Rufous.

Taken: Oneida, Tennessee

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

There are no hummingbird species that live in Tennessee year-round.
However, some Rufous hummingbirds occasionally are seen in the middle of winter in Tennessee.

According to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (tn.gov) and Tennessee State University (TSU), the Rufous hummingbird spends part or all of the winter in Tennessee.

Some hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate can also spend the winter in Tennessee.

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

Which Tennessee hummingbirds breed and nest in the state?

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds and nests in Tennessee, all other hummingbirds seen in Tennessee are just passing through to their nesting destination.

According to Tennessee State University (TSU), the majority of migrating Ruby-throated hummingbirds merely travel through Tennessee on their way to more northern breeding grounds that extend into Canada, however many stay in Tennessee to nest every spring.

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.

Taken: Oneida, Tennessee

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 Tennessee.
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 Tennessee?

Tennessee hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in the mid-to-late March to attract migrating hummingbirds.
The peak spring migration period starts in May, therefore having your feeders ready early will help attract these tiny travelers.

Recommended Timeline for Feeders in Tennessee:

• Mid-to-late March: Set up feeders by mid-to-late March to welcome early Ruby-throated arrivals.
• April–September: Keep feeders filled, as this is the peak hummingbird season.
• November: Continue feeding until at least November and beyond to help late-migrating birds fuel up for their journey south and wintering Rufous hummingbirds.

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

Keep feeders up throughout the hummingbird season in Tennessee between mid-to-late 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.

Taken: Oneida, Tennessee

Many Tennessee 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 Tennessee and will decide to migrate south for the winter.

How long do hummingbirds stay in Tennessee?

Tennessee hummingbirds stay in the state for at least eight months.
They will start arriving as early as mid-to-late March and most will be gone by November.
No hummingbird species live in Tennessee year-round.

Hummingbird Seasons in Tennessee

Season:	Activity:
Mid-to-late March	First arriving (Ruby-throated)
April – September	Peak season for feeding and nesting
Late July- October	Fall migration
November – Beyond	Rare overwintering species (Rufous)

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 hummingbird Tennesseans will see 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 can be critical.

See my article: 
How to Help Hummingbirds in Hot Weather

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

Hummingbirds brave enough to over-winter in Tennessee (such as some Rufous hummingbirds), or too old or injured to migrate, will be the only likely hummingbirds that Tennesseans will see during the winter.

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.

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

When do hummingbirds leave Tennessee?

Tennessee hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as late July and by October they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
No hummingbirds live in Tennessee 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 Tennessee hummingbird to migrate?

It takes a Tennessee hummingbird about 40 Hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30 mph to fly from Tennessee to the Mexican border 1,178 miles away.
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 America.

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.

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

When to take down hummingbird feeder in Tennessee?

Mid-November or after a few weeks without any hummingbird sightings, is the ideal time to remove Tennessee hummingbird feeders for the winter.
Feeders are left up all winter by some Tennesseans to feed uncommon winter hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate.

Although rare, some Rufous hummingbirds choose to overwinter in Tennessee.

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 Tennessee and will decide to migrate south for the winter.

Where do Tennessee hummingbirds go in the winter?

Tennessee’s , Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Broad-tailed, Broad-billed, and Mexican Violetear 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 Tennessee‘s wintering hummingbirds map as reported by ebird.org
In order of frequently seen.

• Ruby-throated
• Rufous
• Black-chinned
• Calliope
• Allen’s
• Anna’s
• Broad-tailed
• Broad-billed
• Mexican Violetear

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:
Hummingbirds Found in Tennessee: (Pictures and Sounds)

Happy Hummingbird Watching!

Check out my other posts on Hummingbird Questions