WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in South Dakota?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive in South Dakota in early May, peak in early September (8.3% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in South Dakota.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 1-7early May
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakSep 1-7early September
Most gone bySep 22-30late September

Best: early September. First arrivals early May; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 8.3% of South Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprnot usually seen
  5. Maycommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Hummingbirds in South Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdMay 1-7May 1-7Sep 1-7Sep 22-308.3%
0%5%10%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 South 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 South Dakota

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Clay CountyBest early September · 56 checklists that week, 2,633 in all50%
  2. Lincoln CountyBest early September · 41 checklists that week, 2,721 in all43%
  3. Roberts CountyBest late August · 73 checklists that week, 3,523 in all41%
  4. Douglas CountyBest the second week of September · 57 checklists that week, 3,141 in all28%
  5. Stanley CountyBest the second week of September · 45 checklists that week, 2,615 in all27%
  6. Turner CountyBest late August · 11 checklists that week, 462 in all20%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in South Dakota?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive in South Dakota in early May, peak in early September (8.3% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in South Dakota.
When do hummingbirds leave South Dakota?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in early September, on about 8.3% of South Dakota checklists.