Your Ohio Hummingbird Arrival Guide: When to Expect Their Return

The spring season brings a lot of beauty with the blooming trees, gorgeous sunsets, and nature thriving around every corner. Midwestern states like Ohio really transform with the changing of the seasons and there’s a lot to love. One of the aspects of spring that people like the most is the arrival of the hummingbirds. There’s nothing quite like seeing these majestic creatures hovering around your flowers and trees. If you want to be prepared for their arrival, then we have you covered with this Ohio hummingbird arrival guide.

Here’s when the hummingbirds are likely to arrive, the type of hummingbirds you should expect to see, and how to attract these beauties to your garden.

Which Hummingbirds to Expect

Ohio is one of the most significant states when it comes to hummingbird migrations, and you have the chance to see several different species.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

The species of hummingbird that you’re most likely to spot is the  Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), which lives three to five years, can get to about 3-3.75 inches in length, and has a wingspan of 3.1-4.3 inches. It is one of the most common species found in the region. You may be able to tell if the birds are near when you spot their cup-shaped nests in trees.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Another hummingbird that will make its way to Ohio this season is the Black-Chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri). This breed lives approximately three to six years, is about 3-4 inches long, and has a wingspan of 4.3-5.1 inches. You may spot this bird flying in gardens and open woodlands. Their nests are often constructed with spider silk and plant fibers. If you spot any black-chinned hummingbirds, it will be from April to August. It will be less likely that you’ll see one in the same area as a ruby-throated hummingbird since they’re more common in the western United States, but it is possible.

Rufous Hummingbird

The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is another potential visitor to Ohio gardens and parks. This lovely bird lives three to five years, grows to 2.75-3.75 inches, and has a wingspan of 3.5-4.3 inches. It’s a quick bird that’s spotted everywhere from Alaska to the western United States. Keep an eye out for their cup-shaped nests. You’re less likely to see Rufous hummingbirds as they are rarer. They also follow different migration routes and are more common in the western half of North America. However, it is possible for Ohio residents to see them around this year.

When the Hummingbirds Will Arrive

Now that we’ve got you all excited about the variety of hummingbirds that may fly across the state, let’s look into when you can expect them to come around. Most hummingbirds will start their migration across the country near the Gulf Coast around late February or mid-March, and they will continue to migrate in a northward direction by late May.

To get a better idea of where hummingbirds can often be found throughout the year, consider this map that was posted on social media by AccuWeather. It shows the dates when you can generally expect to see the birds. When it comes to Ohio, you can anticipate seeing the birds hit the southern half of the state between April 1-15 and the northern half of the state between April 15-30.

People have already started to spot hummingbirds in their yards. According to posts on Hummingbird Central, some folks in Texas spotted ruby-throated hummingbirds as early as February 2, so they’re on their way.

When the Hummingbirds Will Depart

If the migration patterns continue as they have over the last several years, we can expect the hummingbirds to leave Ohio around August or September, when they’ll head to Mexico or Central America to spend the winter. Like many other birds, hummingbirds migrate due to declining food sources, daylight changes, and cooler temperatures.

Where You Can Find Hummingbirds in Your Town

An essential part of an Ohio hummingbird arrival guide is knowing how to find the beautiful birds once they arrive. You may be lucky to find them buzzing around your home or garden. The birds are often found around nectar-rich flowers, including trumpet vines and coneflowers.

If you don’t have the ability to plant a garden, head to the local nature preserve. Many of the parks in Ohio are home to the plants that hummingbirds are known to frequent.

Look online and find a local botanical garden to further increase your chances of spotting a hummingbird. The management at many of these gardens makes it a point to plant the nectar-rich flowers with the intention of inviting hummingbirds to come around so locals can witness them for themselves.

How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Home

If you really love hummingbirds, then you’d likely love if they came around your home for frequent visits. Luckily, folks with a yard can try a couple of tactics to lure hummingbirds to the property. 

Add Plants That Attract Hummingbirds

A good approach is to plant the species that hummingbirds like. There is a large list of plants that will attract hummingbirds, including annual flowers, perennials, and trees and shrubs. Some of the more common plants native to the state include lilac, honeysuckle, hostas, snapdragons, and petunias, among others.

Install a Bird Feeder

You can also install a bird feeder to attract the lovely little birds. You can try many different hummingbird feeder ideas and styles that make it easy for the birds to stay in motion while enjoying a tasty snack. For best results, fill your feeder with hummingbird food they will surely enjoy. The recipes are rather simple and often include mixing one part sugar and four parts water until it dissolves and then pouring it into the feeder.

When preparing the sugar and water mixture, keep the recipe simple, as there are several ingredients that are unlikely to attract the birds, such as artificial sweeteners. The hummingbirds can tell the real deal, and they will not want a substitute. Also, try to avoid honey because when it’s mixed with water, it can lead to bacterial growth. Finally, never include any red food coloring. While there are theories that hummingbirds are attracted to red, they won’t want to eat what you offer. Plus, in some cases, the dye can be harmful to the bird’s health.

Bird Feeder Placement

When placing your bird feeder, you want the birds to find it. Place the feeder in an area with some type of covering or near sheltering plants so the birds don’t feel too exposed. Better yet, place the feeder near your nectar-rich flowers so the birds have a buffet of tasty choices. You may also consider placing the bird feeder near a birdbath or garden pond because hummingbirds like to bathe like other birds do.

Your feeder should sit around five to six feet above the ground. Hummingbirds typically shy away from the top of tall trees, so if you put the feeder too high, the birds may not see it. Don’t place it too low to the ground, or the hummingbirds may not come close for fear of what may be down there waiting for them. With that said, place the feeder so it’s away from predators. You don’t want to situate it in a place where a cat or another creature can climb up.

Conclusion

The hummingbirds are coming to Ohio. It’s not a matter of if but when. So, keep your eyes open for these natural beauties making their return anytime now.