WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Kansas?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Kansas in mid April, are common by early May, peak in early September (25% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Kansas.

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 25% of Kansas 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 Kansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 15-21May 1-7Sep 1-7Oct 1-725%
0%10%20%30%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 Kansas 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 Kansas

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Jackson CountyBest early September · 52 checklists that week, 2,012 in all76%
  2. Leavenworth CountyBest the second week of September · 146 checklists that week, 9,065 in all64%
  3. Allen CountyBest late August · 36 checklists that week, 1,562 in all59%
  4. Pottawatomie CountyBest late August · 195 checklists that week, 8,405 in all58%
  5. Cherokee CountyBest the second week of July · 24 checklists that week, 1,859 in all53%
  6. Washington CountyBest late August · 12 checklists that week, 277 in all50%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Kansas?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Kansas in mid April, are common by early May, peak in early September (25% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Kansas.
When do hummingbirds leave Kansas?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Kansas 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 Kansas?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in early September, on about 25% of Kansas checklists.