Springtime means so much goodness, especially in Pittsburgh. From the return of our favorite attractions – like Kennywood Park – to the roars of the crowd at PNC Park, Pittsburgh leaps alive during the spring season. It’s also a beautiful time in nature with the return of the ruby-throated hummingbird. When do hummingbirds come back to Pittsburgh? During spring, the ruby-throated hummingbirds will complete their migration from the south, and along the way, they’ll pass through Southwestern Pennsylvania, which means it’s likely that you’ll see hummingbirds in Pittsburgh this year.

If you want to attract the ruby-throated hummingbird to your yard, do a couple of things. Make sure you buy one of the best hummingbird feeders in Pittsburgh and learn more below.

Start prepping your yard for the return of the ruby-throated hummingbirds to Southwestern Pennsylvania. When do hummingbirds come back to Pittsburgh?
Flickr/Eric Kelby
The hummingbirds, in fact, should make their first appearances at the end of April.
Only one type of hummingbird lives east of the Mississippi River, and that’s the ruby-throated hummingbird, a tiny but mighty bird.
Flickr/Jesus Cabello
Ruby-throated hummingbirds measure just under four inches from the tip of their beaks to the tip of their tails. Even more impressive, however, just might be their ability to travel up to 25 miles an hour.
Flickr/cuatrok77
If you’ve ever seen a ruby-throated hummingbird flap his wings, you probably know his wings flap really quickly. But, did you know they flap their wings an average of an amazing 53 times a second?
Flickr/Robert Nunnally

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While the return of hummingbirds in Pittsburgh is still some time away, now is the perfect time to prepare your feeder for your spring and summer guests.
Flickr/JD
Ruby-throated hummingbirds eat a variety of insects and nectar from flowers you might already have in your yard. You can find some of the best hummingbird feeders online.
Flickr/Ken Gibson
A feeder doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to hold water for the birds. Speaking of water, you’ll add four parts water and one part regular sugar to the feeder. (Pour one cup of sugar into four cups of water, for example.)
Flickr/glenn_e_wilson
Don’t add red dye to your feeder, and be sure to clean it every few days. Otherwise, it may become moldy, which is dangerous for hummingbirds.
Flickr/ReJoyce Photography
The ruby-throated hummingbirds typically remain in the area until mid to late October. Even after you think you’ve seen the last of the season’s hummingbirds, leave the feeder out for a week or two, just in case some birds are still passing through.
Flickr/b d

The best time to leave out hummingbird feeders in Pittsburgh is around mid-April. Make sure to clean out your feeders frequently so that they don’t get moldy, and there’s no need to add red food dye to the food.

Now that you have your answer, are you looking forward to the return of the hummingbirds in Pittsburgh? Do you feed them during their stay in Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments! If this will be your first year feeding the ruby-throated hummingbirds in Pittsburgh, or if you want to upgrade your current feeder, check out this selection of the best hummingbird feeders.

As the warm weather returns, keep an eye out, too, for the arrival of a new tick in Pennsylvania.

 

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Hummingbirds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Beth Price-Williams | February 20, 2023

What types of hummingbirds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania can I see?

  • Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the most common types of hummingbirds in Pennsylvania.
  • Hummingbirds typically arrive in Southwestern Pennsylvania between late April and May.
  • Males usually arrive earlier, often around two weeks, than females.
  • The hummingbirds usually leave Pennsylvania toward the end of October, but you’ll probably want to leave the feeder out until mid-November, just in case a few stragglers remain.


When should I hang a hummingbird feeder in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?

Since you should expect the arrival of the majority of the ruby-throated hummingbirds toward the end of April, consider putting your hummingbird feeder out at the beginning of the month. Some ruby-throated hummingbirds may arrive earlier, so putting the feeder out early ensures they’ll have the nutrition they need.

Is it safe to feed hummingbirds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?

As long as you don’t put red dye in the sugar water for the ruby-throated hummingbirds in Pennsylvania, you’ll find it is safe to feed them. To ensure their continued safety, dump the water out frequently; wash the feeder, and replace the sugar water. Water that’s allowed to sit for too long could result in the feeder becoming moldy, which will pose a hazard to hummingbirds.

If you don’t yet have a hummingbird feeder or want to replace your current one, check out some of the best hummingbird feeders online.

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