WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Rhode Island?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Rhode Island in late April, are common by early May, peak in late August (20% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Rhode Island.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakAug 22-31late August
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: late August. First arrivals late April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 20% of Rhode Island checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  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 Rhode Island, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 22-30May 1-7Aug 22-31Sep 15-2120%
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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Providence CountyBest late August · 858 checklists that week, 40,898 in all27%
  2. Newport CountyBest mid May · 974 checklists that week, 33,574 in all23%
  3. Kent CountyBest late August · 341 checklists that week, 16,966 in all22%
  4. Washington CountyBest mid May · 1731 checklists that week, 65,038 in all19%
  5. Bristol CountyBest early August · 269 checklists that week, 15,899 in all14%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in Rhode Island?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach Rhode Island in late April, are common by early May, peak in late August (20% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in Rhode Island.
When do hummingbirds leave Rhode Island?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left Rhode Island by mid 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 Rhode Island?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in late August, on about 20% of Rhode Island checklists.