Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Ontario
When ruby-throated hummingbirds are present in Ontario, when they nest, which native Ontario plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canadian zones 0a–7a yard.
- Status in Ontario
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6)
When to expect ruby-throated hummingbirds in Ontario
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are summer residents in Ontario, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June 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 continental in the south, boreal and subarctic in the north; most backyard birding happens in the southern Great Lakes lowlands.
Nesting in Ontario
Across Ontario, ruby-throated hummingbirds typically nest from June–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.
Short, warm summers; Point Pelee and Long Point are continent-famous migration sites.
- Ruby-throated Hummingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as trumpet honeysuckle for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Ontario plants that attract ruby-throated hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Ontario, these 5 provide food or cover ruby-throated hummingbirds use:
Early nectar when hummingbirds arrive in May.
Native red tubular flowers timed to hummingbird arrival.
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Feeding ruby-throated hummingbirds through the Ontario 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 Ontario'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 Ontario year-round?
No. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are summer breeders in Ontario and leave for the winter.
When do ruby-throated hummingbirds nest in Ontario?
Nesting in Ontario typically runs June–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 Ontario?
Wild columbine, Trumpet honeysuckle, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Fireweed are native plants in Ontario that provide food or cover for ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Ontario
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 — Ontario
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas — Birds Canada
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.