Keep Your Eyes Peeled, Thousands of Hummingbirds Are Headed for Maine During Their Migration This Spring

There's nothing like nature to soothe the soul. And luckily, the Pine Tree State has some of the most beautiful natural surroundings. As we ease into spring, you may be wondering, when will hummingbirds arrive in Maine? We're excited to watch the influx of hummingbirds that are expected to arrive as part of their annual migration. They should be visible in quiet yards in New England (especially when we know where to get some of the best hummingbird feeders!), and then we can really start to enjoy spring in Maine.

Measuring between 3-5 inches, hummingbirds are the smallest birds on the planet. But don't let their tiny but mighty size deter you... what they lack in size, they make up for in distance traveled. Beginning in February, hummingbirds migrate from Mexico and Central America heading for the United States and Canada.

Of the 300 different species of hummingbirds, about 12 make the trip north. That’s right! There are 300 different species!

While much of the US will see the birds in March and April, those of us in the northeast will need to wait just a little bit longer. Geographically speaking, it just takes a little longer for these beauties to get to Maine.

We can expect to start seeing the first arrivals in the first week of May. Mainly males, this first group will arrive and stake out their own feeding areas. The females follow soon after and most leave by the end of September. That makes for an entire summer of spotting these beautiful creatures.

You should be on the lookout for the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, as these are the most prevalent here. You’ll know the male by their ruby-red throat area, white collar, emerald green back, and a forked tail. The female has a green back with tail feathers that have white bands and black and grey-green.

While beautiful, hummingbirds can be hard to spot. A great way to increase the chances of being visited by a hummingbird is to put feeders out in your yard a few weeks before they’re expected to arrive.

In Maine, you might consider putting them out in mid-April. Inside the feeders, you’ll put a simple sugar-water mixture, or you can buy pre-made food online. For my DIY bird nerds, you can use a ratio of one part sugar to four parts water. Skip the red dye; there's actually research to suggest that the red dye is more harmful than helpful. They'll find the feeder, don't worry.

These little guys have an incredible memory, and they'll remember where the feeders are. So if you put feeders out in the fall, don't be surprised if they come knocking wondering where the feeders are in the spring!

It’s also a good idea to have a camera near a window that faces the feeder. These birds move quickly and you won’t want to miss your chance at spotting one and taking a photo. You'll want to raise your shutter speed to capture their wings. Now that we've answered the question, "When will hummingbirds arrive in Maine?" it's time to get ready!

So now you know when hummingbirds arrive in Maine. For more information, be sure to check out the 2025 hummingbird migration map. Isn't spring in Maine grand? To learn more about hummingbird migration in Maine and beyond, check out this great resource on all things hummingbirds.

Love board games? Love birds? Put them together with the popular board game of Wingspan.

What are your plans to try to catch a view of some of these hummingbirds? Make sure to put out those hummingbird feeders in Maine this year! Check out some of the best hummingbird feeders to buy before spring. Have you seen these colorful creatures in the area during previous migrations? If you have any advice on how to attract them, leave a comment!

That's not all we have to look forward to in the great outdoors of Maine! When you want to explore by car, check out this covered bridge road trip! Eight historic (and impressive) structures are waiting!