WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in North Dakota?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds mostly pass through North Dakota: they arrive in the second week of May, peak in late August (16% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in North Dakota.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 8-14the second week of May
Common byMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakAug 22-31late August
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: late August. First arrivals the second week of May; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 16% of North Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprnot usually seen
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  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 North Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdMay 8-14May 8-14Aug 22-31Sep 22-3016%
0%5%10%15%20%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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Steele CountyBest late August · 173 checklists that week, 6,291 in all38%
  2. Bottineau CountyBest mid August · 59 checklists that week, 1,949 in all34%
  3. Benson CountyBest late August · 31 checklists that week, 986 in all32%
  4. Mountrail CountyBest mid August · 35 checklists that week, 3,275 in all31%
  5. Ward CountyBest mid August · 99 checklists that week, 5,793 in all29%
  6. Rolette CountyBest mid August · 11 checklists that week, 490 in all28%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in North Dakota?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds mostly pass through North Dakota: they arrive in the second week of May, peak in late August (16% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in North Dakota.
When do hummingbirds leave North Dakota?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left North Dakota by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in North Dakota?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in late August, on about 16% of North Dakota checklists.