WhenToBird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird · Archilochus colubris

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive in West Virginia?

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach West Virginia in mid April, are common by early May, peak in late August (35% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in West Virginia.

When to look

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

Best: late August. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late September. Peak: on about 35% of West Virginia checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  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 West Virginia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Ruby-throated HummingbirdApr 15-21May 1-7Aug 22-31Sep 22-3035%
0%10%20%30%40%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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Best counties for Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Wetzel CountyBest early September · 18 checklists that week, 1,196 in all82%
  2. Putnam CountyBest early September · 98 checklists that week, 2,400 in all79%
  3. Marshall CountyBest mid August · 10 checklists that week, 895 in all78%
  4. Ritchie CountyBest late August · 27 checklists that week, 3,552 in all64%
  5. Mineral CountyBest mid August · 34 checklists that week, 2,389 in all57%
  6. Kanawha CountyBest early August · 164 checklists that week, 12,108 in all55%

Common questions

When do hummingbirds arrive in West Virginia?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach West Virginia in mid April, are common by early May, peak in late August (35% of checklists), and most are gone by late September. They are the only regular hummingbirds in West Virginia.
When do hummingbirds leave West Virginia?
Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is reported most often in late August, on about 35% of West Virginia checklists.