When do hummingbirds leave South Carolina?

Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left South Carolina by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.

When is the best time to see hummingbirds in South Carolina?

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 35% of South Carolina checklists.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in South Carolina?

Photo: David Bird, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach South Carolina in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of September (35% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in South Carolina.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March

Common byApr 8-14the second week of April

PeakSep 8-14the second week of September

Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: the second week of September. First arrivals late March; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 35% of South Carolina checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marrare
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novrare
Decnot usually seen

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

Hummingbirds in South Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Mar 22-31	Apr 8-14	Sep 8-14	Oct 8-14	35%

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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Saluda CountyBest early June · 30 checklists that week, 1,965 in all63%
Clarendon CountyBest early September · 194 checklists that week, 9,189 in all60%
York CountyBest mid August · 177 checklists that week, 12,176 in all59%
Spartanburg CountyBest the second week of August · 121 checklists that week, 9,954 in all59%
Pickens CountyBest the second week of September · 285 checklists that week, 13,660 in all55%
Lexington CountyBest the second week of September · 492 checklists that week, 27,992 in all55%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in South Carolina?: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach South Carolina in late March, are common by the second week of April, peak in the second week of September (35% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are the only regular hummingbirds in South Carolina.
When do hummingbirds leave South Carolina?: Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left South Carolina by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see hummingbirds in South Carolina?: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 35% of South Carolina checklists.