Keep Your Eyes Peeled, Thousands of Hummingbirds are Headed Right for Washington During Their Migration This Spring

Ready for some positive news, fellow Washingtonians? We thought so. Thousands of hummingbirds are making their way up north for their spring migration, and it won't be long before we're seeing them here - if you're not already spotting them, that is. Hummingbird migration in Washington is a splendid time of year, isn't it? Get ready by setting up the best hummingbird feeders for the avian visitors heading your way. Here's what to expect and how (and where!) to find adorable hummingbirds in Washington. So, when do hummingbirds come back to Washington? Read on to find out!

Washington's mountain ranges, valleys, and forests make it an appealing place to hummingbirds, who tend to enjoy mountainous areas.

We even have a species of hummingbird that is native and calls Washington home all year long. However, it's both migration and mating season in the spring, which will bring more birds to town. Thousands of birds, in fact.

Increasingly, hummingbirds are migrating back to the United States earlier because of overall warmer temperatures. Weather and access to food are the primary factors in hummingbird migration.

Anna's Hummingbirds are vibrant and beautiful. The one pictured below looks like he would like to speak to the manager, but just look at those colors!

They're also the most common species found in Washington, and since they're native, you'll find them here all year. Aren't they stunning? For this bird alone, it makes sense to leave your feeder out year-round to make sure these beautiful birds are well-fed.

Anna's Hummingbirds tend to stick to Western Washington in the colder months, but during spring and summer, you'll find them all over the state.

They are also the most vocal hummingbirds in the United States! So, you're just as likely to hear them as you are to see them. Nothing says spring like the sweet notes of birdsong in the morning.

Rufous Hummingbirds tend to arrive in early March and stay through April.

Like many Washingtonians, they're just out there looking for love. Some of them keep heading north, but others stick around until August when they head south. Spring and summer are the breeding seasons for hummingbirds and when they head south again in late summer and early fall, they'll have their offspring with them.

Calliope Hummingbirds can be spotted here from March until August, although they tend to stick to the mountains.

But they'll also be enticed by your backyard feeder if you live in a mountainous area.

If you've had a feeder for a few years, you may even be serving repeat visitors. Hummingbirds are creatures of habit and often stop at the same feeders year after year. You could have had lifelong bird friends this whole time and never known it! Fun fact: a group of hummingbirds is called a charm. It's my favorite hummingbird fact ever.

You can easily attract these sweet little hummingbirds with a feeder, although they are also particular to red, purple, pink, and orange flowers. Make them a meal of cane sugar and water (no food coloring), and they'll be your new best friends. Skip the red dye; experts believe it does more harm than good. A brightly colored hummingbird feeder will attract them.

Ready to see some hummingbirds? Follow their migration north. Hummingbird Central has an interactive map where users can report sightings so that you can track the 2025 hummingbird migration each day!

And if you're looking forward to spring in Washington, be sure to put these beautiful spots on your bucket list for the upcoming season! And, if you love birdwatching like we do, check out these delightful backyard birding cards from REI.