When do hummingbirds leave New Jersey?

Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left New Jersey 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 New Jersey?

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in late August, on about 27% of New Jersey checklists.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in New Jersey?

Photo: David Bird, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach New Jersey in mid April, are common by late April, peak in late August (27% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in New Jersey.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April

Common byApr 22-30late April

PeakAug 22-31late August

Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: late August. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 27% of New Jersey checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octuncommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Hummingbirds in New Jersey, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	Aug 22-31	Sep 22-30	27%

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 Jersey 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 Jersey

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Sussex CountyBest early September · 530 checklists that week, 30,305 in all40%
Cape May CountyBest late August · 4500 checklists that week, 189,832 in all36%
Camden CountyBest late August · 572 checklists that week, 25,931 in all34%
Burlington CountyBest mid August · 716 checklists that week, 52,358 in all33%
Hunterdon CountyBest late August · 1381 checklists that week, 57,610 in all33%
Somerset CountyBest late August · 1379 checklists that week, 58,057 in all30%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in New Jersey?: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach New Jersey in mid April, are common by late April, peak in late August (27% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in New Jersey.
When do hummingbirds leave New Jersey?: Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left New Jersey 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 New Jersey?: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in late August, on about 27% of New Jersey checklists.