WhenToBird

2 hummingbird species in Alaska

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Alaska?

Adult male Rufous Hummingbird
Photo: Sandra Keller, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Rufous Hummingbirds and Anna's Hummingbirds are the hummingbirds you are most likely to see in Alaska. Rufous Hummingbirds arrive in Alaska in the second week of April, peak in the second week of July (5.0% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakJul 8-14the second week of July
Most gone byAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: the second week of July. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by the second week of August. Peak: on about 5.0% of Alaska checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seprare
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Hummingbirds in Alaska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rufous HummingbirdApr 8-14Apr 8-14Jul 8-14Aug 8-145.0%
Anna's HummingbirdAug 8-14Aug 8-14Oct 22-31Mar 8-142.3%
0%2%4%6%Rufous HummingbirdAnna's HummingbirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Rufous Hummingbird
  • Anna's 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 Alaska 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 Alaska

Best counties for Rufous Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Wrangell City and BoroughBest early July · 68 checklists that week, 2,509 in all31%
  2. Prince of Wales-Hyder Census AreaBest mid June · 104 checklists that week, 2,822 in all28%
  3. Ketchikan Gateway BoroughBest mid April · 111 checklists that week, 4,641 in all27%
  4. Hoonah-Angoon Census AreaBest late June · 330 checklists that week, 8,159 in all23%
  5. Haines BoroughBest early May · 23 checklists that week, 1,690 in all21%
  6. Juneau City and BoroughBest the second week of July · 702 checklists that week, 30,475 in all19%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Alaska?
Rufous Hummingbirds arrive in Alaska in the second week of April, peak in the second week of July (5.0% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.
When do hummingbirds leave Alaska?
Most Rufous Hummingbirds have left Alaska by the second week of August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid August.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Alaska?
The Rufous Hummingbird is reported most often in the second week of July, on about 5.0% of Alaska checklists.
Which hummingbirds are in Alaska?
Rufous Hummingbird and Anna's Hummingbird are reported regularly; the Rufous Hummingbird is the most common.