When to Stop Feeding Hummingbirds

Any Amazon links below are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission at no cost to you if you click and finalize an order. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

When to Stop Feeding Hummingbirds

There comes a point every year when we have to face the inevitable: the leaves are falling, the nights are colder, and our hummingbirds are going to head south for the winter. But just when do hummingbirds leave? And when do you stop feeding hummingbirds?

There are parts of the U.S. where you never have to take down feeders – the deep south and warmer areas of the west both have climates where hummingbirds can live year-round. For the rest of us, though, especially here in the northeast, hummingbirds are very much seasonal.

The good news is that you can probably enjoy your hummingbird friends for longer than you think! Here’s how:

When Do Hummingbirds Leave?

The first step in figuring out when to stop feeding hummingbirds is to determine when they’re going to migrate. The timing varies based on area, but it happens during fall throughout the northeast.

As a general guideline, most areas of the northeast will see their last hummingbirds sometime between early October and late November.

In general, male hummingbirds migrate first, followed by females, and then juvenile hummingbirds. If you see a larger than usual number of any of these, that means they’re probably in that stage of migration.

When to Take Down Hummingbird Feeders

So, when do you stop feeding hummingbirds? The right time is whenever they stop visiting your feeder. Leave the feeder up for 2-3 weeks after you spot your last hummer, then take it down for the winter. Since the last hummingbird typically flies through from early October to late November, that makes the typical time to take them down anytime from mid-October into December.

Don’t hesitate to leave your feeder out longer than you think is necessary just to be safe. Hummingbirds benefit greatly from having the extra food you put out as they migrate. It gives them a chance to stock up for the long journey ahead, or, if they’re already migrating, a spot to stop in and fuel up along their journey. As fall progresses, it becomes harder for hummingbirds to get the fat stores they need to migrate. Hummingbird water offered throughout the fall can be a big help.

Leaving feeders out during this crucial period can help your birdwatching, too. Hummingbirds remember where they frequently found food, especially later in the season, and will return each year as part of their migration.

It’s important to note that feeding your hummingbirds well into fall will not discourage their migration. When it’s time, hummingbirds migrate regardless of the food available to them. The birds have an internal hormonal clock that tells them, along with outside factors like the number of daylight hours, when to leave.

Make sure you’re changing the water and cleaning the feeder throughout fall. Even if the hummingbirds haven’t been drinking it all up, it’s important to switch it out every few days or at least once a week so they don’t become ill. Even with cooler weather, their water can still go bad. After all, you wouldn’t want to eat food that sat out for a week even if it was cool out!

Once no hummingbirds have visited for two to three weeks, it’s time to take down the feeder. Wash and dry your feeder, then put it in a safe storage space until spring comes and it’s time to feed them again!

If freezing temperatures are forecast before that time is up, take note of the following tips:

Keeping Hummingbird Water from Freezing

The reality of feeding hummingbirds throughout late fall is that you’ll have to weather a few cold spells. If you can, try to continue offering food. It’s a commitment though – if you aren’t careful, their water will freeze, creating a block of ice that they can’t eat and which might damage your feeder. There are a few things you can try to keep the water from freezing.

The fastest method is bringing it indoors overnight and hanging it back up early the next morning before they wake. Keep in mind that they are very early risers, though! They tend to drink quite a bit at dawn, so you’ll need to put it back out early to catch them.

If that doesn’t appeal to you, you can take other precautions. One is to sweeten the nectar up to a 1:3 ratio for the duration of the cold weather, which brings the freezing point of the water down by a few degrees. This shouldn’t be done long-term, though, since it’s a higher concentration of sugar than is really healthy for them.

Consider moving the feeder to a warmer location, such as a protected space under a porch near an incandescent light. The heat from an incandescent can keep water from freezing. You can also try using a window feeder, especially if you have older windows that may let more warmth out. The heat from the inside may be just enough to keep the water from freezing.

You can also try heating the feeder by hanging it near a heat lamp, wrapping incandescent holiday lights around it, or insulating the feeder with bubble wrap around the outside. You can even purchase a special hummingbird feeder heater to be on the safe side.

Other Reasons to Stop Feeding Hummingbirds

There are several reasons aside from the end of hummingbird season to take down your feeders. For example, if you’re unable to regularly clean them, you should take down the feeders as soon as possible. There’s no need to risk their health. You should also remove the feeder if it’s damaged and could pose a risk to the hummers.

If you’re going on vacation, consider taking the feeders down for a little bit so the food inside won’t spoil. You can always rehang a feeder once you’re able to care for it again, and the hummingbirds will be just as happy once it comes back.

Remember that as much as we enjoy them, the hummingbirds can live their whole lives without our assistance. It’s very unlikely that they will starve without your feeder.

Enjoy Your Hummingbirds!

You should now have a good grasp on when your hummingbirds are going to leave along with when to take down their feeder.

In the meantime, enjoy watching the hummingbirds who visit throughout fall!

Ever wonder why your little visitors dislike each other so much? Here’s why hummingbirds fight.