Hummingbird Migration in Washington State
Ten common questions regarding the migration of Washington hummingbirds are discussed in this article.
When do hummingbirds arrive in Washington State?
The earliest arrivals of Washington hummingbirds are seen in early March, with peak migration occurring in April.
Washington 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 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.
Anna’s hummingbirds, a year-round resident to Washington are by far the most commonly seen in the state, however Rufous hummingbirds are the first migrating hummingbirds to be seen in Washington.
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: Jace Walker
Taken: Washington
Hummingbirds starting their spring migration from Panama need to fly about 3,500 miles to reach Washington.
Hummingbirds starting their journey from Mexico need to fly about 2,400 miles to reach Washington.
What are the most common hummingbirds seen in Washington?
The Anna’s hummingbirds are by far the most common hummingbirds seen in Washington, with the Rufous hummingbird being a distant second.
These are Washington’s statistics at the beginning of 2025 as reported by ebird.org
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Washington, 7,483 will be Anna’s.
- On average, out of 10,000 hummingbird sightings in Washington, 2,050 will be Rufous.
Photo by: Jace Walker
Photo Taken: Seaview, Washington
Photo by: Jace Walker
Photo Taken: Washington
Are there Washington hummingbirds that live in the state year-round?
The Anna’s hummingbird is the only bird that lives year-round in Washington.
All other hummingbird species found in Washington are migratory and leave for warmer climates in the fall.
Other hummingbirds seen in the middle of winter in Washington 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
Anna’s hummingbird:
Year-round to Washington
Photo by: Kevin Walsh
What hummingbirds breed and nest in Washington?
The Anna’s, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds are the four species that breeds and nests in Washington.
All other hummingbirds seen in Washington are just passing through to their nesting destination, somewhere near their own bird.
Breeding map for Anna’s hummingbirds that breed and nest in Washington, reported by ebird.org
Photo by: IntheWildwithRick
Anna’s Breeding Map
Breeding map for Rufous hummingbirds that breed and nest in Washington, reported by ebird.org
Photo by: Bob Free
Rufous Breeding Map
Breeding map for Calliope hummingbirds that breed and nest in Washington, reported by ebird.org
Photo by: sony_alpha_male
Calliope Breeding Map
Breeding map for Black-chinned hummingbirds that breed and nest in Washington, reported by ebird.org
Photo by: hummingbirdsbysurpise
Washington Hummingbirds:
Black-chinned Breeding Map
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 Anna’s, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds will raise two families per year in Washington.
However, there are occasions where they are able to work in an additional family for a total of three families per year.
On a Light Wire
Anna’s Hummingbird
Photo by: Mehta.vishal.360
When should I put out hummingbird feeders in Washington?
Washington hummingbird enthusiasts should put out hummingbird feeders in early March to attract the very earliest arriving migrating hummingbirds with peak migration period occurring in April.
Anna’s hummingbirds are non-migratory and stay in the region all year.
Approximately one week after the arrival of the male hummingbirds, the females will follow.
Keep feeders up throughout the hummingbird season between March through 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.
Anna’s Hummingbirds
Many Washington hummingbird admirers leave their hummingbird feeders up all winter long to provide life-nourishing nectar to the Anna’s hummingbird, species that choose to overwinter or those unable to migrate due to injury or old age.
According to United States Department of Agriculture Washington (USDA) the Anna’s hummingbird is the only species that overwinters in Washington.
See my article:
11 DIY Ways to Keep Hummingbird Nectar From Freezing
However, most of these hummingbirds will not spend the winter in Washington and will decide to migrate south for the winter.
How long do hummingbirds stay in Washington?
The Anna’s hummingbird is the only species that live in Washington year-round for all 12 months.
All other Washington hummingbirds stay in the state for at least six months.
They will start arriving as early as early March and most will migrate south for the winter and be gone by September.
Hummingbird Duration in Washington:
Listed in order of frequently seen:
| Species: | Duration in Washington: |
| Anna’s | Year-round (12 months) |
| Rufous | March -Sept (5-6 month) |
| Calliope | Late April – Late August (3-4 month) |
| Black-chinned | April – August (3-4 month) |
Anna’s hummingbirds are seen in all 12 months and are year-round residents to Washington.
Some hummingbirds that are too old or injured to migrate, will be the only likely hummingbirds Washingtonian hummingbird enthusiasts will see during the winter.
Rufous hummingbirds arrive in early March for spring arrivals.
Their breeding season is from March through July.
Fall migration begins in mid-July with most leaving Washington by late August or September.
Their duration stay is approximately 6–7 months in Washington.
Calliope hummingbirds arrive in late April to early May for spring arrivals.
Their breeding season is from May through June.
Fall migration begins in late July with most leaving Washington by late August.
Their duration stay is approximately 3-4 months in Washington.
Black-chinned hummingbirds arrive in April to May for spring arrivals.
Their breeding season is from May through July, mainly in eastern Washington.
Fall migration begins in late summer with most leaving Washington by August.
Their duration stay is approximately 4 months in Washington.
Migratory species in Washington, including the Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds stay between 3 to 6 months, depending on the species.
Most migratory hummingbirds leave by late summer or early fall.
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 to southern migration in the fall.
See my article:
Hummingbird Adaptation and Remarkable Ability to Locate Food
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
Photo by: Jace Walker
Photo Taken: Washington
The most common summer hummingbirds in Washington are Anna’s, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds.
Late summer is also a good time to spot juveniles and females as they prepare for migration.
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 late July and most hummingbirds will be gone from Washington by September.
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 Washington State?
Washington hummingbirds begin leaving the state as early as late July and by September they have migrated to their over-wintering areas in Mexico and Central America.
The Anna’s hummingbird live in Washington year-round while other species can choose to overwinter in the state.
According to United States Department of Agriculture Washington (USDA) the Anna’s hummingbird is the only year-round resident of the Pacific coast.
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 September.
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 Washington hummingbird to migrate?
It takes a Washington hummingbird about 80 hours of flying at its average migrating flight speed of 30mph to fly from Washington to the most distant Mexican border 2,400 miles away.
Hummingbirds migrating to Panama 3,500 miles away, will need to fly 116 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 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.
Photo by: Bob Free
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 my hummingbird feeders in Washington?
Do not take down hummingbird feeders in Washington in the winter in order to supply and feed life-sustaining nectar to the year-round resident, the Anna’s hummingbird.
Removable of hummingbird feeders in mid-winter can be fatal.
Feeders should be up all winter in Washington to feed the year-round Anna’s resident, some overwintering, migrating or injured hummingbirds.
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?
Migratory species such as the Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned hummingbirds will not spend the winter in Washington and leave to their wintering home in Mexico in September.
Photo by: Andrea Varju
Where do Washington State hummingbirds go in the winter?
Washington’s resident hummingbird, the Anna’s hummingbird, remain in Washington over the winter.
Washington’s migrating hummingbirds travel south to overwinter in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Allen’s over-winter in southern California.
See Washington’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:
Hummingbirds Found in Washington:
(Pictures and Sounds)
Happy Hummingbird Watching!
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