Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Arkansas
When ruby-throated hummingbirds are present in Arkansas, when they nest, which native Arkansas plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6b–8b yard.
- Status in Arkansas
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6b–8b
When to expect ruby-throated hummingbirds in Arkansas
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are summer residents in Arkansas, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on nectar from tubular red and orange flowers; gnats, mosquitoes and small spiders.
Humid subtropical, with the Ozark and Ouachita highlands in the northwest and the flat Mississippi Delta in the east.
Nesting in Arkansas
Across Arkansas, ruby-throated hummingbirds typically nest from May–August. Nest site: walnut-sized cup of plant down bound with spider silk, saddled on a downward-sloping branch. Females lay 1–3 eggs (usually 2), incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 18–22 days.
Hot, humid summers; shade nest boxes in the Delta.
- Ruby-throated Hummingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as trumpet honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, coral bean for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Arkansas plants that attract ruby-throated hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Arkansas, these 6 provide food or cover ruby-throated hummingbirds use:
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.
Feeding ruby-throated hummingbirds through the Arkansas year
Change nectar every 2 days in hot weather (under 80°F, every 4–5 days) and clean the feeder each refill. Males defend feeders aggressively; several feeders out of sight of each other help.
- Best foods: Sugar water: 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water, no dye.
- Avoid: Honey, brown sugar, artificial sweeteners and red dye.
- In Arkansas's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for ruby-throated hummingbirds · Best feeder for ruby-throated hummingbirds
Frequently asked
Are ruby-throated hummingbirds in Arkansas year-round?
No. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are summer breeders in Arkansas and leave for the winter.
When do ruby-throated hummingbirds nest in Arkansas?
Nesting in Arkansas typically runs May–August, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–3 eggs (usually 2), incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract ruby-throated hummingbirds in Arkansas?
Trumpet honeysuckle, Trumpet creeper, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Coral bean, Red buckeye are native plants in Arkansas that provide food or cover for ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Arkansas
Sources
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Arkansas
- 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.