WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Delaware?

Adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Photo: David Bird, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Delaware in mid April, are common by late April, peak in early September (29% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Delaware.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakSep 1-7early September
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: early September. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 29% of Delaware checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Hummingbirds in Delaware, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 15-21Apr 22-30Sep 1-7Sep 22-3029%
0%10%20%30%40%Ruby-throated HummingbirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Ruby-throated 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 Delaware 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 Delaware

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. New Castle CountyBest early September · 1538 checklists that week, 72,140 in all43%
  2. Sussex CountyBest late August · 2076 checklists that week, 91,027 in all23%
  3. Kent CountyBest early September · 633 checklists that week, 36,693 in all14%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Delaware?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Delaware in mid April, are common by late April, peak in early September (29% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Delaware.
When do hummingbirds leave Delaware?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Delaware by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Delaware?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in early September, on about 29% of Delaware checklists.