08/28/2026
Fall means ruby-throated hummingbirds will be leaving us soon and getting ready to migrate to warmer climates in Central and South America for the winter!!
Most of Mississippi can expect to see hummingbirds heading south starting around September 27–October 4. Coastal areas are a week later, October 4–11. (These dates and ranges are estimates from collected data by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The birds could arrive earlier or later than the expected dates.)
Dr. Adam Rohnke, MSU Extension urban wildlife specialist, has a few recommendations to help hummingbirds on their journey:
Clean all feeders from earlier in the year and fill them with a new batch of hummingbird food. Mix one part of refined white sugar with four parts water.
Keep a close eye on the feeders. The mixture will spoil within 2–3 days of sitting in hot temperatures. If you notice the mixture turning an opaque, milky white color, dump it out and clean thoroughly. To clean, submerge the feeder in a 10 percent bleach solution, rinse with water, and let it air dry.
If you're already thinking about how to improve your hummingbird habitat for next year, take a look at this helpful Extension publication. It explains flowering plants hummingbirds will love! Read here: https://extension.msstate.edu/lawn-and-garden/landscape-architecture/landscape-design-and-management/plants-and-wildlife/attracting-hummingbirds-mississippi-gardens
