Did you know North Dakota only has one truly native hummingbird species? That’s right, only the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) includes North Dakota as part of its regular range. In fact, this is the U.S. and Canada’s only native breeding hummingbird species east of the Rocky Mountains! Like other hummingbird species, they are strongly dimorphic, with males sporting more colorful plumage that includes an iridescent red throat patch called a gorget. Read on to find out when these little flying jewels arrive in and leave the state, where they go, and what other species may sometimes visit.
When Do Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Arrive in North Dakota?
Putting up a hummingbird feeder during spring migration season is a great way to coax ruby-throated hummingbirds to stay in North Dakota and breed!
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Ruby-throated hummingbirds are not year-round residents of North Dakota Rather, they arrive during the annual spring migration season. They also are rare to see in the western half of the state. This is because only the eastern half falls within their usual migration path. Furthermore, only the far eastern end falls into the edge of their usual breeding range.
What this means is that while many will just be passing through as they migrate further north, others in the easternmost part of the state may stick around and make North Dakota their home for the breeding season. Males usually arrive first to claim breeding territories beginning at the end of April. Females will then begin arriving in May to choose mates and nest. If you want to entice these migrating hummingbirds into making your home theirs for the season, you can attract them by planting their favorite nectar flowers and putting up nectar feeders!
When Do Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Leave North Dakota?
Just as adult males are usually first to arrive in spring, they are often the first to leave in fall.
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After breeding and raising their young through the summer, ruby-throated hummingbirds will reverse their path during the fall migration season. During this time, birds who stayed to breed (and their young!) will rejoin others traveling back down from further north. Adult males usually begin departing first in late August, with most hummingbirds gone by the beginning of October.
Where Do Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Go After Leaving North Dakota?
This map illustrates the range of the ruby-throated hummingbird. Orange represents its breeding range, yellow its extended migration range, and blue its overwintering range.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate south to overwintering grounds in Florida, Mexico, and Central America. While many migrating through North Dakota may continue on an overland route, others on a more eastern path will make an amazing journey across the Gulf of Mexico in a single super-powered nonstop flight!
Do Other Hummingbirds Visit North Dakota Too?
While the ruby-throated hummingbird is Iowa’s only official native species, other species from western and southern North America and Central America occasionally pop up in the state as “vagrants.” These are individuals from species whose natural ranges aren’t normally in the state but who somehow turn up anyway. They may be blown in by storms, get thrown off course during migration, hitchhike on cargo, or otherwise just be breaking new ground for their species! At least five such vagrant species have been recorded in North Dakota in recent decades.
1. Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
The male rufous hummingbird distinguishes itself from the ruby-throated hummingbird by its brilliant orange coloration.
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While this hummingbird is native to western North America, it appears as a vagrant east of the Rockies more frequently than any other western species. It is not uncommon for them to occasionally disperse into midwestern states such as North Dakota. They will most likely turn up as a special visitor to the state during autumn migration season.
2. Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)
The male calliope hummingbird has a magenta-rayed gorget.
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This is the smallest bird in the United States and another rare western species visitor to North Dakota. There have only been a few state sightings, with the first-ever reports in July and August 2021 and the most recent in June 2023.
3. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypta anna)
The male Anna’s hummingbird sets itself apart from the other similarly-colored species with an iridescent reddish-pink cap to match its scarf.
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This is a new rare western visitor to North Dakota. It was only first recorded in the state in October 2022! Will one appear again in 2023?
4. Black-Chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
The male “black-chinned” hummingbird sports a beautiful deep purple gorget too.
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This western hummingbird species is another extraordinarily rare visitor to North Dakota. The state has only ever recorded it once, back in September and October 2019.
5. Broad-Tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)
While the broad-billed hummingbird looks similar to the native ruby-throated species, the male’s gorget usually appears more rose-colored.
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Like the black-chinned hummingbird, this exceptionally rare western visitor has only ever been recorded once, way back in August 2007.
Conclusion
The ruby-throated hummingbird is North Dakota’s only truly native hummingbird species. This migratory species will arrive in the eastern half of the state during the spring, usually at the end of April into May. While many will continue further north, others in the easternmost portion of the state will stay to breed and raise families. They will leave again for autumn migration beginning in late August through the beginning of October, making their way south to their overwintering grounds. There are also at least five other hummingbird species that, while not native to the state, have been recorded as rare visitors. If you want to make whatever hummingbirds show up in your area feel welcome, provide them with a hummingbird-friendly habitat!
