You may already be asking yourself, “When will I see hummingbirds in Minnesota this spring?” For many Minnesotans, there’s no greater sign of spring than the sight and sound of birds in the air. After a long, cold winter, we’re ready for the new season. And what a season spring in Minnesota is: honking Canada geese arrive early on, along with ducks and cranes. They’re often here when the water is still frigid and the ground still covered in snow, but it’s a sign that things are about to change.

Some birds, however, arrive a bit later, making them the true harbingers of warm weather. One example is the ruby-throated hummingbird. These tiny little birds migrate by the thousand every spring and fall. This spring, like every other, they’re headed right for Minnesota. One way to help the hummingbirds in Minnesota – just before and just after migration – is to hang a hummingbird feeder. The best hummingbird feeders allow hummingbirds to feed while preventing large insects from crawling into the liquid. Let’s see when we can expect these amazing avian animals.

The range map below shows ruby-throated hummingbirds' winter homes in blue, their migration in yellow, and their summer homes in green.
Ken Thomas/Wikipedia
These industrious little birds migrate up from Mexico and Central America, spreading through the United States as the weather warms.
Hummingbirds, a common sight in yards across Minnesota, are currently traveling by the thousands throughout Mexico and the southern United States.
Michael Janke/Flickr
This migration will continue for the next several months, with hummingbirds not yet arriving in Minnesota until the first week of May, according to the experts at Hummingbird-guide.com.
Tibor Nagy/Flickr

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By June and July, the birds will have spread through the rest of Minnesota, to feed on the nectar of flowering plants and hummingbird feeders in Minnesota's backyards.
Corn Farmer/Flickr
They'll thrive in our warm summer temperatures.
If you'd like to see ruby-throated hummingbirds in your own yard, consider getting a hummingbird feeder!
Trent Jonas/OnlyInYourState
Fill your hummingbird feeder with one part sugar, three parts water, and delight as these tiny little creatures flutter around it.
Male ruby-throated hummingbirds are easy to spot, thanks to the bright red throats for which they are named.
Mark Moschell/Flickr
Females have light brown or white throats. Both are beautiful additions to your yard this spring and summer!

So, when will hummingbirds arrive in Minnesota? They’ll begin to show up in late April, and the bulk will appear in early May. Then we’ll have hummingbirds in Minnesota all summer long. If you plan on putting out nectar, look for the best hummingbird feeders you can find and try to have them up by May 1.

Have you ever spotted a ruby-throated hummingbird in Minnesota? And if you’re totally ready to be done with winter and move on to spring, you’ll definitely want to check out these 11 beautiful places to visit in Minnesota when the weather turns warm! Excited for spring in Minnesota? We sure are!

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When Will Hummingbirds Arrive In Minnesota?

Sarah | February 22, 2021

What types of hummingbirds are in Minnesota?

The only hummingbirds in Minnesota that could be considered regular visitors are native ruby-throated hummingbirds. This doesn’t mean that you can’t see other types of hummingbirds in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. In fact, at least six other species of hummingbirds have been positively identified in Minnesota. These include Mexican violet ears, which could be described as a “casual species” because they tend to roam around the edges of their range. Thus, it is the other species you have the best chances of espying in Minnesota. Other confirmed sightings include rufous hummingbirds, Anna’s hummingbirds, calliope hummingbirds, Rivoli’s hummingbirds, and Costa hummingbirds. These species are rarely spotted in the state, and when they are, it is most likely because they have wandered off course and stumbled into the North Star State accidentally.

When should I hang a hummingbird feeder in Minnesota?

Because hummingbirds begin to arrive in late April or early may, the state’s Department of Natural Resources recommends hanging your hummingbird feeder in Minnesota no later than May 1. Doing so will also help warblers and Baltimore orioles, which may arrive earlier in the season and also feed on nectar.

Is it safe to feed hummingbirds in Minnesota?

According to the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center, the biggest concern about feeding birds this year is avian influenza, and hummingbird feeders pose a lower risk than other types of bird feeders. The best course of action is to monitor the Raptor Center’s website for avian influenza updates and feeding recommendations.

 

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