When do rufous hummingbirds arrive in Washington?
The Rufous Hummingbird is a summer breeder in Washington — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Rufous Hummingbird timing in Washington
- Arrives
- Around April
- Leaves
- By July
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- May–June
- Present roughly
- April–July
In Washington, rufous hummingbirds are present through the warm months, arriving around April and heading south again by July.
These windows are set by latitude: Washington 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 Washington. 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 April is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early April — the first rufous hummingbirds into Washington are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around May, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What rufous hummingbirds eat while they're here
- Nectar and gnats
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 Washington
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Washington-native plants are known to attract rufous hummingbirds:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Red trumpets for Broad-tailed and Rufous hummingbirds.
Early spring blooms fuel returning Rufous Hummingbirds.
Evergreen with yellow spring flowers and blue summer fruit.
Spring flowers for Rufous Hummingbirds, early fruit for thrushes.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do rufous hummingbirds arrive in Washington?
rufous hummingbirds typically arrive in Washington around April, with nesting underway by May. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do rufous hummingbirds leave Washington?
Most rufous hummingbirds have left Washington by July. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do rufous hummingbirds stay in Washington all year?
No — in Washington the Rufous Hummingbird is a summer breeder, present roughly April–July. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before rufous hummingbirds arrive in Washington?
Have feeders up and clean by early April — 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 — Washington
- 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.