WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Pennsylvania?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Pennsylvania in late April, are common by early May, peak in late August (29% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Pennsylvania.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakAug 22-31late August
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: late August. First arrivals late April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 29% of Pennsylvania checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  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 Pennsylvania, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 22-30May 1-7Aug 22-31Sep 22-3029%
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Juniata CountyBest the second week of September · 123 checklists that week, 9,807 in all71%
  2. Huntingdon CountyBest late August · 595 checklists that week, 32,852 in all48%
  3. Perry CountyBest early September · 169 checklists that week, 10,281 in all45%
  4. Lawrence CountyBest the second week of August · 211 checklists that week, 15,430 in all43%
  5. Susquehanna CountyBest mid August · 313 checklists that week, 22,573 in all42%
  6. Pike CountyBest mid August · 297 checklists that week, 17,484 in all42%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Pennsylvania?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Pennsylvania in late April, are common by early May, peak in late August (29% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Pennsylvania.
When do hummingbirds leave Pennsylvania?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Pennsylvania by late September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in Pennsylvania?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in late August, on about 29% of Pennsylvania checklists.