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When to Put Out and Take Down Hummingbird Feeders
There is no single national date: put feeders out a week or two before hummingbirds usually reach you in spring, and take them down about two weeks after you last see one in fall. This guide gathers what state wildlife agencies, a citizen-science project and other published sources say, and shows where they differ.
By The Bird Feeder Guide Editorial Team · Sources checked October 2026 · Updated October 2026
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How this guide was made: research-based from the cited sources, compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team. We did not hands-on test any product.
Quick answer
Spring: hang a clean, freshly filled feeder before the first birds arrive. Texas Parks and Wildlife suggests having feeders up by March 15 in Texas, while the Missouri Department of Conservation says hummingbirds start appearing in mid-April there. Fall: keep the feeder up until about two weeks after your last sighting. Texas Parks and Wildlife says leaving feeders up does not delay migration and may help late or stalled birds. For your exact area, check the Journey North migration maps.
How we picked our sources
We read state agencies first, then a citizen-science project, a local Audubon chapter and two general media articles. We did not read Cornell’s All About Birds or Hummingbirds.net for this update because those pages could not be retrieved, so their guidance is not reflected here. Several sources are undated or old, noted below. Regional dates from media sites are estimates, not agency data.
Timing at a glance
| Source | Spring (put out) | Fall (take down) |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Parks and Wildlife (undated) | Migration can start in January or February in some areas; have feeders up by March 15 | About 2 weeks after you last see a hummingbird |
| Missouri Dept. of Conservation (March 29, 2021) | Hummingbirds start appearing mid-April; have clean, filled feeders ready | Not stated |
| Baton Rouge Audubon Society (local chapter) | February on the Gulf Coast; Ruby-throated birds return late February to March | Can come down in October, but it recommends year-round feeding because western hummingbirds increasingly winter on the Gulf Coast |
| Journey North (February 2022) | Put out if hummingbirds overwinter or early migrants show up; Rufous migration picks up in mid-March | Not stated |
| Homes & Gardens (February 7, 2026) | Southeast and Gulf: late Feb to early Mar. Mid-Atlantic: late March. Midwest and Great Lakes: early to mid April. Northeast: mid to late April. Mountain West: late April. West Coast: late Feb to April | Not stated |
| Farmers’ Almanac (updated September 27, 2026) | Not stated | At least 2 weeks after the last sighting; its regional dates are internally inconsistent, so we do not quote them |
What the sources recommend, and who it suits
Hang feeders about two weeks early
Homes & Gardens quotes a birding blogger who suggests hanging feeders about two weeks before expected arrival so birds learn the location. Texas Parks and Wildlife offers a more flexible option: feeders can go up only for the migration and nesting seasons.
Who it is for: anyone who wants to catch the first arrivals. Who should skip it: anyone who cannot refresh nectar often, since an early feeder still needs fresh nectar.
Leave it up after the last sighting
Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Farmers’ Almanac both say to wait about two weeks after your last hummingbird. Texas Parks and Wildlife adds that this may help late migrants, and the Almanac says migration is driven by day length rather than food.
Who it is for: everyone in areas with fall migration. Who should skip it: nobody needs to rush; if nectar spoils or freezes, take the feeder in.
Consider year-round feeding on the Gulf Coast
Texas Parks and Wildlife and Baton Rouge Audubon both say to leave feeders up all year where winter visitors such as Rufous hummingbirds appear.
Who it is for: Gulf Coast and Texas yards. Who should skip it: northern yards with hard freezes; the sources do not give guidance for those.
Keeping nectar safe while the feeder is up
Baton Rouge Audubon suggests a quarter cup of table sugar per cup of water, says boiling is not necessary, and warns against honey and other sweeteners. The Missouri Department of Conservation uses one part sugar to four parts boiling water, cooled, and advises no red dye. Both land on the same one-to-four ratio; the boiling advice differs. Baton Rouge Audubon says to change nectar every two to three days in summer and about weekly in cool winter weather, and sooner if it turns cloudy or moldy. Missouri says to clean feeders twice a week in hot weather and once a week in cooler weather. Our hummingbird nectar recipe has the details.
Baton Rouge Audubon also lists what it looks for in a feeder: red with no yellow (yellow can attract bees and wasps), a no-drip design for windy days, easy cleaning and a perch. Homes & Gardens notes many feeders include ant moats and bee guards. Saucer style and specific models are Not stated by these sources, so we make no product pick here. To compare feeders, see Best Hummingbird Feeders.
Limits and what the sources do not say
No source gives one correct date for every region. Several pages are undated, from 2021 or 2022, or are written by lifestyle media rather than wildlife agencies. We did not find guidance on exactly where Anna’s hummingbirds winter, and the Farmers’ Almanac contradicts itself on zone dates. Treat dates as starting points and watch for the first bird in your area. Birds can still arrive early or linger late in any year.
Questions about hummingbird feeder timing
When should I put out hummingbird feeders in spring?
It depends on region. Gulf and Southeast areas often see birds from late February or March, Texas guidance says to have feeders up by March 15, and Missouri’s agency says birds start arriving in mid-April. Check Journey North maps for local timing.
When should I take hummingbird feeders down in fall?
About two weeks after you last see a hummingbird, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Farmers’ Almanac.
Will leaving a feeder up keep hummingbirds from migrating?
No. Texas Parks and Wildlife says leaving feeders up does not delay migration and may help late or stalled birds, and the Almanac says migration is driven by day length and hormonal cycles.
How often should I change the nectar?
Baton Rouge Audubon says every two to three days in summer and about weekly in cool weather; Missouri says to clean feeders twice a week in heat and once a week when cooler. Change sooner if it turns cloudy or moldy.
Related guides
How to Attract Hummingbirds
Best Hummingbird Feeders
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
How to Attract Birds
How to Clean a Bird Feeder
Sources and method
Sources checked October 2026. This guide is research-based from the sources below, compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team, with no hands-on testing by us.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, hummingbird FAQ (undated)
Missouri Department of Conservation, news release (March 29, 2021)
Baton Rouge Audubon Society, Feeding Hummingbirds (undated)
Journey North, Thoughts of Spring (February 21, 2022)
Homes & Gardens, when to put out hummingbird feeders (February 7, 2026)
Farmers’ Almanac, when to take down your hummingbird feeder (updated September 27, 2026)