WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in New Hampshire?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach New Hampshire in late April, are common by the second week of May, peak in mid August (28% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in New Hampshire.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: mid August. First arrivals late April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 28% of New Hampshire 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. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Hummingbirds in New Hampshire, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 22-30May 8-14Aug 15-21Sep 8-1428%
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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Carroll CountyBest mid August · 726 checklists that week, 30,580 in all43%
  2. Hillsborough CountyBest the second week of August · 666 checklists that week, 50,125 in all31%
  3. Strafford CountyBest mid August · 557 checklists that week, 41,888 in all31%
  4. Sullivan CountyBest mid August · 249 checklists that week, 13,105 in all31%
  5. Grafton CountyBest mid August · 874 checklists that week, 45,699 in all30%
  6. Cheshire CountyBest the second week of August · 582 checklists that week, 39,834 in all30%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in New Hampshire?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach New Hampshire in late April, are common by the second week of May, peak in mid August (28% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in New Hampshire.
When do hummingbirds leave New Hampshire?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left New Hampshire by the second week of 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 New Hampshire?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in mid August, on about 28% of New Hampshire checklists.