Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Oklahoma
When ruby-throated hummingbirds are present in Oklahoma, when they nest, which native Oklahoma plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–8a yard.
- Status in Oklahoma
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
When to expect ruby-throated hummingbirds in Oklahoma
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are summer residents in Oklahoma, 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 in the forested east, semi-arid in the western plains and Panhandle.
Nesting in Oklahoma
Across Oklahoma, 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 summers with strong winds; water is especially valuable in the west.
- 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 Oklahoma plants that attract ruby-throated hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Oklahoma, these 8 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.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Feeding ruby-throated hummingbirds through the Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma'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 Oklahoma year-round?
No. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are summer breeders in Oklahoma and leave for the winter.
When do ruby-throated hummingbirds nest in Oklahoma?
Nesting in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma?
Trumpet honeysuckle, Trumpet creeper, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Coral bean, Red buckeye, Golden currant, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in Oklahoma that provide food or cover for ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Oklahoma
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 — Oklahoma
- 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.