Ruby-throated hummingbird migration is in full swing, and September can turn an ordinary feeder into a blur of wings almost overnight. A video uploaded September 4, 2026 in Monroe, Mississippi, offers a perfect example, with hummingbirds darting, chasing, and squeezing into every opening. But what looks like one big crowd heading south is really more of a revolving door.
Video shared by HUMMINGBIRD NEWS on YouTube.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Migration Shifts Into High Gear in September
For something that weighs no more than a couple of pennies, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird has an enormous trip ahead of it. By early fall, birds that spent the breeding season across the eastern United States and Canada are heading toward wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. Research highlighted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has found that fall migration peaks in September, making this one of the busiest stretches of the journey south.
That movement doesn’t happen all at once. Adult males tend to leave first, followed later by females and young hummingbirds. As local summer residents disappear, migrants arriving from farther north can take their place.
The cast changes even when the stage looks exactly the same.
By September, a familiar feeder can become less like a neighborhood hangout and more like a stop along the way. Same feeder. Same flowers. Not necessarily the same hummingbirds.
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Ruby-throated Hummingbirds May Share a Table, But Not the Trip
A feeder surrounded by Ruby-throated hummingbirds can certainly look like a flock gathering for the journey south. That’s not quite what’s happening. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate individually rather than traveling south together in organized flocks. During the September rush, plenty of solo travelers can cross paths at the same reliable food source. A yard rich with flowers and fresh nectar becomes a tiny roadside stop on a much bigger journey.
They aren’t traveling together. They just happen to keep pulling into the same tiny diner.
The result can be wonderfully chaotic. One bird darts toward a feeder, another gives chase, wings blur around the ports, and a newcomer slips in the moment an opening appears. There may be a crowd gathered in one place, but each hummingbird is preparing for its own journey. And some of those travelers are headed toward a place where stopping isn’t an option.
For Some Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, the Next Stop Is 500 Miles Away
Flying south eventually brings many Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to the Gulf of Mexico. From there, some follow a route around the coast. Others head straight across open water toward Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. That direct route can mean roughly 500 miles of nonstop flight over the Gulf, a journey that can take about 18 to 20 hours. There are no flowers halfway across. No convenient branch offering a place to catch a breath. Once a hummingbird heads over open water, there is no refueling until land appears on the other side.
Suddenly, all that frantic September feeding makes a little more sense. Hummingbirds rely heavily on nectar for energy, but their diet also includes tiny insects and spiders that provide important nutrients. During the Ruby-throated hummingbird migration, every good feeding opportunity helps build the reserves that will carry these tiny travelers toward whatever comes next.
Should You Leave Feeders Up During Hummingbird Migration?
Definitely. Leaving a feeder up will not stop hummingbirds from migrating. This stubborn myth has sent plenty of perfectly useful feeders into storage too early. Keeping feeders up does not prevent birds from beginning migration. Seasonal cues, including changing day length, help trigger migratory behavior. A full feeder isn’t enough to convince a hummingbird to cancel a trip written much more deeply into its biology.
Keeping a feeder up may instead help a traveler you haven’t met yet. Keep feeders available while hummingbirds are still visiting and for about two weeks after the last bird is seen. A late migrant may still come through long after the summer regulars have moved on. The important part is keeping the nectar fresh. A standard mixture is one part plain white sugar to four parts water, with no red dye, honey, or artificial sweeteners. Feeders also need regular cleaning, especially during warm September weather when sugar water can spoil quickly.
The feeder isn’t asking anyone to stay. It’s just making the journey a little sweeter for whoever passes through next.
September Doesn’t Keep Its Ruby-throated Hummingbirds for Long
One September morning can bring a blur of wings around the flowers and feeders. A few weeks later, the same spot may suddenly feel quiet. The hummingbirds haven’t vanished. The season has simply carried them further down the map. So enjoy the September commotion while it lasts. The chases, the hovering, the impossible little bursts of speed are all part of a season already in motion. It may look like one last burst of summer around the feeder. In reality, those tiny wings are already carrying hummingbirds into the next season.
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Hummingbird Migration FAQ
What month do Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate south?
Fall hummingbird migration begins before September for some birds, but September is an especially important month for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Research has found that their fall migration peaks during September, although timing varies by location, age, sex, species, and individual bird.
Why am I seeing so many hummingbirds in September?
September can bring local hummingbirds and migrants from farther north through the same area. Good feeding spots may attract multiple birds as they refuel, creating sudden bursts of activity even as hummingbird migration continues south.
Do hummingbirds migrate together?
No. Hummingbirds migrate individually rather than forming traditional migratory flocks. Several birds may stop at the same flowers or feeders during migration, however, which can make a busy feeding spot look like a group traveling together.
When should I take my hummingbird feeder down?
You don’t need to remove a feeder to make hummingbirds migrate. Leave feeders up while hummingbirds are still visiting and for about two weeks after the last bird is seen. Keeping a feeder available won’t convince a hummingbird to stay, and a late migrant may still come through after the summer regulars have moved on.
