When do hummingbirds leave Louisiana?

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds never fully leave Louisiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of October, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.4% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Louisiana?

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in mid September, on about 44% of Louisiana checklists.

Which hummingbirds are in Louisiana?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Buff-bellied Hummingbird are reported regularly; the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common.

4 hummingbird species in Louisiana

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Louisiana?

Photo: David Bird, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Rufous Hummingbirds, and Black-chinned Hummingbirds are the hummingbirds you are most likely to see in Louisiana. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are in Louisiana all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late July, peak in mid September (44% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of October. In the quietest week (the second week of February) they are still on about 2.4% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildJul 22-31late July

PeakSep 15-21mid September

Fall back byOct 8-14the second week of October

FewestFeb 8-14the second week of February

Best: mid September. Here all year; numbers build from late July and fall back by the second week of October. Peak: on about 44% of Louisiana checklists.

Janrare
Febrare
Maruncommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Jununcommon
Julcommon
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novrare
Decrare

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

Hummingbirds in Louisiana, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Jul 22-31	Jul 22-31	Sep 15-21	Oct 8-14	44%
Rufous Hummingbird	Oct 15-21	Nov 15-21	Feb 22-28	Mar 22-31	4.7%
Black-chinned Hummingbird	Nov 8-14	Nov 8-14	Jan 15-21	Mar 15-21	2.5%
Buff-bellied Hummingbird	Nov 8-14	Nov 8-14	Jan 15-21	Mar 8-14	1.9%

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Buff-bellied 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak

St. Landry ParishBest mid September · 36 checklists that week, 2,172 in all83%
Claiborne ParishBest late July · 20 checklists that week, 1,949 in all76%
Lafayette ParishBest mid September · 273 checklists that week, 14,990 in all74%
Assumption ParishBest late September · 14 checklists that week, 1,199 in all72%
Acadia ParishBest late September · 106 checklists that week, 4,718 in all69%
East Carroll ParishBest early May · 14 checklists that week, 317 in all69%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Louisiana?: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are in Louisiana all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late July, peak in mid September (44% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of October. In the quietest week (the second week of February) they are still on about 2.4% of checklists.
When do hummingbirds leave Louisiana?: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds never fully leave Louisiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of October, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.4% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Louisiana?: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in mid September, on about 44% of Louisiana checklists.
Which hummingbirds are in Louisiana?: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, and Buff-bellied Hummingbird are reported regularly; the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common.