When do hummingbirds leave Alabama?

Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Alabama by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late October.

When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Alabama?

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 44% of Alabama checklists.

Which hummingbirds are in Alabama?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rufous Hummingbird are reported regularly; the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common.

2 hummingbird species in Alabama

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Alabama?

Photo: David Bird, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Alabama in the second week of March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of September (44% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are by far the most reported hummingbirds in Alabama.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 8-14the second week of March

Common byApr 1-7early April

PeakSep 8-14the second week of September

Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: the second week of September. First arrivals the second week of March; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 44% of Alabama checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprcommon
Mayuncommon
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Hummingbirds in Alabama, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Mar 8-14	Apr 1-7	Sep 8-14	Oct 8-14	44%
Rufous Hummingbird	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Jan 8-14	Mar 15-21	1.6%

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Alabama that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Alabama

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Houston CountyBest late August · 129 checklists that week, 6,424 in all81%
Marengo CountyBest late August · 53 checklists that week, 2,453 in all79%
Macon CountyBest late August · 119 checklists that week, 4,809 in all78%
Geneva CountyBest mid September · 55 checklists that week, 3,203 in all74%
Montgomery CountyBest early September · 256 checklists that week, 15,953 in all71%
Jefferson CountyBest late August · 663 checklists that week, 30,294 in all66%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Alabama?: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Alabama in the second week of March, are common by early April, peak in the second week of September (44% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are by far the most reported hummingbirds in Alabama.
When do hummingbirds leave Alabama?: Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Alabama by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late October.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Alabama?: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 44% of Alabama checklists.
Which hummingbirds are in Alabama?: Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rufous Hummingbird are reported regularly; the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common.