WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Maine?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Maine in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid August (22% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Maine.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: mid August. First arrivals late April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 22% of Maine checklists.

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

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

Hummingbirds in Maine, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 22-30May 1-7Aug 15-21Sep 15-2122%
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 Maine 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 Maine

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Somerset CountyBest mid August · 155 checklists that week, 12,202 in all34%
  2. Franklin CountyBest mid August · 274 checklists that week, 14,182 in all34%
  3. Lincoln CountyBest mid August · 1136 checklists that week, 59,429 in all33%
  4. Penobscot CountyBest the second week of August · 826 checklists that week, 56,895 in all32%
  5. Waldo CountyBest mid August · 732 checklists that week, 33,433 in all32%
  6. Kennebec CountyBest the second week of August · 947 checklists that week, 48,185 in all29%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Maine?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Maine in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid August (22% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Maine.
When do hummingbirds leave Maine?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Maine by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late September.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Maine?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in mid August, on about 22% of Maine checklists.