Winter Hummingbird Banding

Contact information for HBSG affiliated banders is listed in the left panel. We ask that you contact one of them to report a wintering hummer in your yard or neighborhood. The magic cutoff date for lingering Ruby-throated Hummingbirds is November 15th. In some instances a few Ruby-throated may linger past this date, but the chances of that occurring are quite small. The first of the adult male Rufous hummingbirds can appear in the eastern United States as early as mid to late July. Any hummer in your yard with a brown back is a male Rufous. Please report any very large or all green hummers to the nearest bander, or to Bob Sargent who will contact you and discuss what is possible in your area. 

We have documented fourteen species in the eastern United States; Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, Allen's, Anna's, Calliope, Buff-bellied, Broad-tailed, White-eared, Green Violet-ear, Magnificent, Green-breasted Mango and Broad-billed and Costa's.

So be sure to leave your feeder out all winter, keep it clean and maintained and where you can view it easily. If the nectar is going down in the feeder, watch it for about an hour to see if you have a bird feeding on it or not. Those of you in the range for the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, don't worry, you will not make them stay if you leave your feeder out in winter. When it is time they will migrate with or without your feeder. We expect other species to show up in our area any day, it may be at your house. If it is, CALL OR EMAIL US!!!

For information on maintaining your winter feeder, click here!

Thanks to folks like you we are able to capture, identify, band and release these very special wintering hummingbirds.

~ Bob Sargent