If you enjoy watching hummingbirds, you may wonder when to put out your feeder.  It's earlier than you think!

The Great Hummingbird Migration

I know many of us have cabin fever from the winter and are ready for things to start warming up, and one sure sign that warm weather is here is when hummingbirds come back to our area.

According to Hummingbird Central, which tracks the migration of these small birds, hummingbirds typically spend the winter months in Central America or Mexico.  The birds then migrate back north for the summer months. The migration tracking period for Hummingbird Central is typically from January to May.  As of now, the migration tracker from Hummingbird Central only shows hummingbird sightings in very far southern states. So these little birds still have a way to go before they get to Indiana.

When Will We See Hummingbirds Back in Indiana?

When looking at several different sources online, it seems like the general consensus is that we should see hummingbirds back in the Hoosier state around mid-April.  Empress of Dirt has a map estimating when hummingbirds will return to different regions, and southern Indiana will see hummingbirds a little earlier than other parts of Indiana.

When Will Hummingbirds Return to Each Part of Indiana?

Southern Indiana could see hummingbirds as early as the beginning of April to mid-April.  The central Indiana area should begin seeing hummingbirds around mid to late April, and the northern part of Indiana may have to wait until late April before their first sight of hummingbirds.  You can see the Empress of Dirt's full map with estimates for the 2025 migration here. 

The hummingbirds we see around our area are typically the ruby-throated hummingbird.  According to Rove, hummingbirds will stick around Indiana from around April to October. Rove says you should prepare for a hummingbird feeding frenzy around late summer or early Fall because that's when they're trying to fuel up for their migration back to the south.

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When Should You Put Your Hummingbird Feeder Out in Indiana?

According to Birdwatching HQ, there is no exact date to put out your hummingbird feeder.  They do recommend having your feeder out and ready to go as the birds are tired from their long journey and will want to eat.

Birdwatching HQ says that hummingbirds typically come back around the same time every year, but certain factors can make them arrive sooner or later.

First, let me give you my disclaimer that there isn’t a specific date every year that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive in Indiana from their long migration northward. The exact dates change every year depending on certain environmental factors, such as weather and food availability.

Birdwatching HQ recommends putting your hummingbird feeder outside around mid-April.  Since hummingbirds are expected to arrive in our area (Evansville, Indiana) early to mid-April, I'd suggest putting your feeder out at the start of April so any early birds can refuel!  You can find more hummingbird feeder tips and tricks from Birdwatching HQ, here.