Hummingbirds are magnificent creatures, so it’s no surprise that hummingbird feeders are a popular backyard choice. While hummingbirds will flock in to benefit from the sweet nectar hummingbird feeders provide, you can enjoy watching these beautiful, tiny winged birds.
However, while you may relish having hummingbirds in your yard throughout the whole year, I asked wildlife experts if you should leave a hummingbird feeder out all winter. And the answer depends on where you live and hummingbird migration.
When should you take down your feeder?
A different kind of migration
Maria Kincaid, ornithology research specialist at FeatherSnap explains that apart from migrating south, some hummingbirds migrate elevationally. This includes Anna’s hummingbirds found in California and parts of Washington and Oregon.
So instead of traveling miles cross-country, they migrate to a different altitude to allow them to find food and suitable habitats in the fall.
“The further north you are, the earlier you should take down your feeders,” says Kincaid. And she adds, “The northernmost breeding populations of species like Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds begin their migration as early as mid-August, with the peak migration happening in September and October.”
The ideal time to remove your hummingbird feeder is when the birds migrate, but this will all depend on where you live and the particular species.
Hummingbird migration
“Most hummingbirds in North America are migratory, breeding throughout the U.S. and Canada, and wintering in Central and South America,” explains Maria Kincaid, ornithology research specialist at FeatherSnap.
However, she says that there are some exceptions, with southern Arizona and New Mexico having populations of hummingbirds year-round.
To discover what’s happening in your area, Dan DeBaun, Bird Blogger at Dan’s Birds Bites, suggests checking your local state department of resources or range maps at Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
Does keeping your hummingbird feeder up discourage migration?
I was concerned that keeping a hummingbird feeder up during migration season would discourage the birds from flying south, but DeBaun says there’s no need to worry. “Leaving food out for birds doesn’t discourage migration. Migration is instinctual and determined by the amount of daylight during the day,” he explains.
So even if you leave your hummingbird feeder out, as the days grow shorter in late summer, hummingbirds start to get restless and head south.
Hummingbirds can consume half their weight in sugar every day, and they have the highest metabolism of any warm-blooded animal on earth.
Kincaid agrees that you won’t discourage the birds from migrating. In fact, leaving your feeder out will help them during their long journey. “Before migrating, hummingbirds start a feeding frenzy called hyperphagia, stocking up on calories from nectar and insects to build fat reserves. This can nearly double their body weight, giving them plenty of energy to make the long trip,” she explains.
So instead of discouraging hummingbirds, keeping your hummingbird feeder in your backyard is beneficial. “Leaving your feeders up until you’re certain the hummingbirds have left your area can actually help prepare these little long-distance fliers. It’s even a good idea to keep feeders out for a few weeks after your local birds are gone to provide a crucial stopover for those migrating south,” Kincaid says.
However, during this time of year, when you’re less likely to be pottering about in your backyard, you’ll need to keep checking on your feeder to make sure the nectar stays fresh.
What will happen if you leave your hummingbird feeder up for too long?
“Nothing particularly bad is going to happen if you leave your feeder up for too long,” reassures Kincaid, “the birds will move on when they need to.”
Although she does advise removing your feeder if you live in an area where it gets particularly cold, “Leaving the nectar in your hummingbird feeder may damage it, so it’s best to not leave it out when the temperatures drop.”
She also notes that the nectar may attract pests or grow moldy, making it challenging to clean and sanitize.
Kincaid says, “It’s also important to make sure that you don’t skimp on your hummingbird feeder maintenance — regular cleaning and refilling is just as important this time of year as it is when your breeding birds are around!”
For this reason, the Wildlife Rescue Association also advises against keeping hummingbird feeders out if they aren’t properly looked after. And it adds that contaminated nectar can lead to fungal infections, starvation, and the death of hummingbirds if they have been relying on them for their main food source.
Hummingbird migration — what to expect
Here Kincaid shares her insight into the migration pattern of hummingbirds.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds, the only species to breed in the eastern U.S., are highly migratory, wintering in Mexico and Central America.
Black-chinned hummingbirds and Broad-tailed hummingbirds breed in the western U.S. and winter in Mexico and Central America.
Costa’s hummingbirds are migratory, but Kincaid explains that their wintering and breeding ranges overlap, so there’s a portion of southern California and Arizona where they occur year-round. There are a few species in Mexico that are resident throughout their range.
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