WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Kentucky?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Kentucky in the second week of April, are common by early May, peak in early September (41% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Kentucky.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakSep 1-7early September
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: early September. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 41% of Kentucky checklists.

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

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

Hummingbirds in Kentucky, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 8-14May 1-7Sep 1-7Oct 1-741%
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Morgan CountyBest late July · 11 checklists that week, 282 in all89%
  2. Spencer CountyBest the second week of August · 155 checklists that week, 7,721 in all82%
  3. Allen CountyBest late July · 46 checklists that week, 2,170 in all80%
  4. Larue CountyBest late August · 15 checklists that week, 1,047 in all79%
  5. Lincoln CountyBest the second week of September · 65 checklists that week, 2,393 in all78%
  6. Logan CountyBest late August · 33 checklists that week, 1,991 in all77%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Kentucky?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Kentucky in the second week of April, are common by early May, peak in early September (41% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Kentucky.
When do hummingbirds leave Kentucky?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in early September, on about 41% of Kentucky checklists.