Black-chinned Hummingbird in October
Where black-chinned hummingbirds are in October, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
October in the Black-chinned Hummingbird's year
October brings the year's great turnover. The last long-distance migrants depart, winter visitors arrive from the North, and sparrows flood back into brushy edges and feeder yards. The first hard frosts end the insect season across most of the continent.
For the Black-chinned Hummingbird specifically, October is a fall month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 14 states and provinces where black-chinned hummingbirds occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where black-chinned hummingbirds are in October
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- mostly absent (migration only)
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In October, black-chinned hummingbirds are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in October
Black-chinned hummingbirds are not nesting in October. The season runs April–July at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, black-chinned hummingbirds put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in October
- Winters in western Mexico
The common summer hummingbird of Texas Hill Country and the desert Southwest; pumps its tail while hovering.
This is the month to get winter feeding stations established — birds are scouting the food sources they'll rely on all winter.
Full Black-chinned Hummingbird diet guide → · Best feeder for black-chinned hummingbirds →
Watching black-chinned hummingbirds this month
Black-chinned hummingbirds are settled and predictable in October, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region black-chinned hummingbirds are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Black-chinned Hummingbird month by month
Black-chinned Hummingbird by state
Frequently asked
Where are black-chinned hummingbirds in October?
In October, black-chinned hummingbirds are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do black-chinned hummingbirds nest in October?
No — black-chinned hummingbirds typically nest April through July at mid-latitudes.
What do black-chinned hummingbirds eat in October?
Winters in western Mexico.
Sources
- Black-chinned Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-chinned Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-chinned Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.