WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Indiana?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Indiana in mid April, are common by early May, peak in early September (38% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Indiana.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakSep 1-7early September
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: early September. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 38% of Indiana 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 Indiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 15-21May 1-7Sep 1-7Oct 1-738%
0%20%40%60%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 Indiana 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 Indiana

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Blackford CountyBest the second week of September · 24 checklists that week, 962 in all78%
  2. Harrison CountyBest mid August · 174 checklists that week, 12,553 in all72%
  3. Whitley CountyBest late August · 97 checklists that week, 4,695 in all69%
  4. Washington CountyBest early September · 30 checklists that week, 1,463 in all68%
  5. Fayette CountyBest early September · 38 checklists that week, 1,864 in all67%
  6. Switzerland CountyBest the second week of August · 28 checklists that week, 1,318 in all66%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Indiana?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Indiana in mid April, are common by early May, peak in early September (38% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Indiana.
When do hummingbirds leave Indiana?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Indiana by early October, 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 Indiana?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in early September, on about 38% of Indiana checklists.