Hummingbird Migration - According to Google
Hummingbirds fly south for the winter in a staggered migration that begins as early as late June or July and lasts through October
General Migration Timeline
Northern and Western Areas: Long-distance travelers like the Rufous hummingbird start moving south as early as late June or July. (That's me, and my feeders are not emptying as fast)
Mid-Atlantic and Northern US: First departures begin in mid-to-late August, with peak movement in September.
Southeast and Gulf Coast: Most birds pass through or gather in September and October before heading into Mexico or Central America
Departure Order by Group
Adult males: Leave first, often in late July or August, because they do not help raise the young.
Adult females: Follow about one to two weeks later.
Juveniles: Young birds leave last, usually in September, after building up enough fat and weight for the journey
When to Take Down Feeders
Leave your feeders up until you have not seen a single hummingbird for two to three weeks.
Leaving feeders up will not stop a hummingbird from migrating; it simply provides vital fuel for late travelers and young stragglers
My note - it is Sep 24 and I still see birds at my feeders... they don't wear name tags so I don't know if the ones still here are adults or young ones getting ready to fly South for the first time... either way, I keep my feeders up until the weather starts freezing overnight, then I clean them and store them away so they don't freeze and break... next year they will go up in 'about' March when the risk of freezing is gone
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