Rufous Hummingbirds in Alabama
When rufous hummingbirds are present in Alabama, when they nest, which native Alabama plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–9a yard.
- Status in Alabama
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–9a
When to expect rufous hummingbirds in Alabama
In Alabama, rufous hummingbirds are winter visitors rather than breeders. Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north. While here they rely on winters in mexico; some along the gulf coast.
Humid subtropical, with Gulf-influenced warmth in Mobile and Baldwin counties and cooler Appalachian foothills in the northeast.
Native Alabama plants that attract rufous hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Alabama, these 6 provide food or cover rufous 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 rufous hummingbirds through the Alabama year
The most aggressive hummingbird — one male may guard all feeders; hang several out of sight of each other.
- Best foods: Sugar water 1:4.
- In Alabama's winter: Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north.
Full diet breakdown for rufous hummingbirds · Best feeder for rufous hummingbirds
Frequently asked
Are rufous hummingbirds in Alabama year-round?
No. Rufous Hummingbirds are winter visitors in Alabama and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract rufous hummingbirds in Alabama?
Trumpet honeysuckle, Trumpet creeper, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Coral bean, Red buckeye are native plants in Alabama that provide food or cover for rufous hummingbirds.
Rufous Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alabama
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 — Alabama
- 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.