Here’s when hummingbirds leave Kentucky! (to migrate south)
Unfortunately, hummingbirds don’t live in Kentucky year-round. 🙁
At the end of every summer, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (the only common species in the state) depart Kentucky to migrate south to southern Mexico and Central America. They spend the winter here in the warm weather before coming back next spring!
So when exactly do hummingbirds leave Kentucky?
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds start their southward migration once their breeding season ends. It’s believed that they can sense the changes in the reduced number of daylight hours, flowers, and insects, which triggers their instinct to leave Kentucky.
This means that most hummingbirds leave Kentucky by the end of August or early September. By mid-September, almost all birds are gone, and they won’t return again until spring.
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But keep your eyes open for any hummingbirds that started their migration late. It’s not uncommon to see a straggler passing through Kentucky towards the end of September, especially if they started their migration from much higher north!
I’m guessing that the reason you wanted to know when hummingbirds leave Kentucky is that you were curious when you can put away your feeders for the winter?
Here’s what I always recommend:
Don’t take down your feeders until you haven’t seen a hummingbird for TWO weeks.
Once that happens, you can be very confident that almost all the hummingbirds in Kentucky have left for the year!
Trust me; you definitely don’t want to take away the nectar in your yard too early. Hummingbirds migrate a LONG way and need lots of ENERGY, which you can hopefully provide to them.
When do you normally see the last hummingbirds leave Kentucky?
Let us know in the COMMENTS section below!
October 1, have three at feeder on Ky Lake near Murray Ky!
I have a pair at my feder today Saturdsy Sept,30 in Alvany,KY, Greg Tompkins
I have seen 1 in my yard Sept 24 2023 when will he/she migrate?
Liberty KY
It is September 22nd a I still have about 8 birds. They haven’t slowed down yet. I love watching them. So darn cute and funny. Western KY. Caldwell County.
I still have 5 on 21st
Still here in Lexington on the 24th!
9/22/23
Georgetown, KY
Active feeders. 2 two days ago, but none since. Sad to see them go, but wish them well on their journey!
I have seen a few hummingbirds today . I’m in western Kentucky. Today is September 20th.
I am in southeastern Kentucky and I seen hummingbirds at my feeder today.
In Shelbyville KY we still have two feeding heavily as of Sep 19.
Just saw a couple at the feeders am September 18. They seem super busy. Southeast ky. 50 miles north of Tennessee. A bit warmer in this location
September 7th and the regulars are gone. The northern hummingbirds are hanging about still.
First part of October.
Thank you, Letitia. I’m near Bowling Green, Ky. I just wondered if you or anyone else has seen hummingbirds that haven’t migrated?
We had a dozen of them here in Verona KY yesterday and have only seen 1 today. Those 12 have been here most of the summer.