WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in Vermont?

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

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

When to look

First arrivalsMay 1-7early May
Common byMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: mid August. First arrivals early May; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 29% of Vermont checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Hummingbirds in Vermont, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdMay 1-7May 8-14Aug 15-21Sep 8-1429%
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 Vermont 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 Vermont

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Orleans CountyBest mid August · 256 checklists that week, 11,785 in all44%
  2. Windsor CountyBest the second week of August · 1162 checklists that week, 73,702 in all44%
  3. Rutland CountyBest mid August · 736 checklists that week, 46,909 in all40%
  4. Washington CountyBest mid August · 559 checklists that week, 37,036 in all38%
  5. Orange CountyBest mid August · 263 checklists that week, 16,964 in all36%
  6. Bennington CountyBest the second week of August · 270 checklists that week, 21,621 in all33%

Common questions

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