WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Maryland?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Maryland in mid April, are common by early May, peak in early September (32% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Maryland.

When to look

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

Best: early September. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 32% of Maryland checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Jununcommon
  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 Maryland, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 15-21May 1-7Sep 1-7Sep 22-3032%
0%10%20%30%40%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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Calvert CountyBest mid August · 699 checklists that week, 43,807 in all47%
  2. Cecil CountyBest the second week of September · 281 checklists that week, 18,620 in all45%
  3. Allegany CountyBest early September · 357 checklists that week, 18,322 in all41%
  4. Garrett CountyBest mid August · 507 checklists that week, 37,616 in all41%
  5. Talbot CountyBest early September · 574 checklists that week, 31,140 in all41%
  6. Charles CountyBest mid August · 143 checklists that week, 10,064 in all37%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Maryland?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Maryland in mid April, are common by early May, peak in early September (32% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Maryland.
When do hummingbirds leave Maryland?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Maryland by late September, 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 Maryland?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in early September, on about 32% of Maryland checklists.