When do rufous hummingbirds arrive in Mississippi?
The Rufous Hummingbird is a winter visitor in Mississippi — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Rufous Hummingbird timing in Mississippi
- Arrives
- Around November
- Leaves
- By February
- Status here
- Winter visitor
- Present roughly
- November–February
In Mississippi, rufous hummingbirds are a cold-season bird, arriving around November and heading back north to breed by February.
These windows are set by latitude: Mississippi sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here tracks the continental average closely. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when rufous hummingbirds are expected in Mississippi. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before November is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early November — the first rufous hummingbirds into Mississippi are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Through the winter, consistent food matters more than variety — birds map dependable stations into their daily routes and rely on them hardest during cold snaps.
What rufous hummingbirds eat while they're here
- Winters in Mexico; some along the Gulf Coast
The most aggressive hummingbird — one male may guard all feeders; hang several out of sight of each other.
Full Rufous Hummingbird diet guide → · Best feeder for rufous hummingbirds →
Native plants that hold rufous hummingbirds in Mississippi
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Mississippi-native plants are known to attract rufous hummingbirds:
Native red tubular flowers timed to hummingbird arrival.
Large orange trumpets through midsummer.
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Red tubular spring flowers for early hummingbirds.
Blooms right as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds return.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do rufous hummingbirds arrive in Mississippi?
rufous hummingbirds typically arrive in Mississippi around November. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do rufous hummingbirds leave Mississippi?
Most rufous hummingbirds have left Mississippi by February. They spend the breeding season farther north and return in the fall.
Do rufous hummingbirds stay in Mississippi all year?
No — in Mississippi the Rufous Hummingbird is a winter visitor, present roughly November–February. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before rufous hummingbirds arrive in Mississippi?
Have feeders up and clean by early November — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: nectar and gnats.
Sources
- Rufous Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Rufous Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Rufous Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Mississippi
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.