Here's When Hummingbirds Leave Kentucky! (to Migrate South)

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Unfortunately, hummingbirds don’t live in Kentucky year-round. 🙁

At the end of every summer, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (the only common species in the state) depart Kentucky to migrate south to southern Mexico and Central America. They spend the winter here in the warm weather before coming back next spring!

So when exactly do hummingbirds leave Kentucky?

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds start their southward migration once their breeding season ends. It’s believed that they can sense the changes in the reduced number of daylight hours, flowers, and insects, which triggers their instinct to leave Kentucky.

This means that most hummingbirds leave Kentucky by the end of August or early September. By mid-September, almost all birds are gone, and they won’t return again until spring.

• RELATED: 38 PROVEN Tips For Attracting Hummingbirds! (UPDATED Guide)

But keep your eyes open for any hummingbirds that started their migration late. It’s not uncommon to see a straggler passing through Kentucky towards the end of September, especially if they started their migration from much higher north!

I’m guessing that the reason you wanted to know when hummingbirds leave Kentucky is that you were curious when you can put away your feeders for the winter?

Here’s what I always recommend:

Don’t take down your feeders until you haven’t seen a hummingbird for TWO weeks.

Once that happens, you can be very confident that almost all the hummingbirds in Kentucky have left for the year!

Trust me; you definitely don’t want to take away the nectar in your yard too early. Hummingbirds migrate a LONG way and need lots of ENERGY, which you can hopefully provide to them.

When do you normally see the last hummingbirds leave Kentucky?

Let us know in the COMMENTS section below!

When Do Hummingbirds Return to Kentucky? (Get your feeders ready!)

Scott

Scott is the creator of Bird Watching HQ. His goal is to inspire you to care more about the birds and wildlife in YOUR backyard. Over the past 5 years, he has been focused on improving the habitat in his own yard by doing things like adding native plants, not using pesticides, etc. He is happy to report that over 50 species of birds have now been seen on his 1.5-acre property (that's in a suburban neighborhood). Learn more about Scott on his About page. And make sure to check out his LIVE bird cameras.

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31 Comments

1. Haven’t seen any in around 4 days but checked online, hence why I’m here, to see if they may have migrated already. Will keep feeder up for a bit longer. Thanks for the info!

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2. I had one at a feeder yesterday, October 5, but I haven’t seen it, yet, today I am still keeping fresh nectar in the feeders, just in case I live in Lexington, KY

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3. Today is October 3, 2025 I live in Stanford, KY. I have 2 feeders and the last time I had hummingbirds at either of my feeders was September 30th. I’m going to leave my feeders up for another week, just in case.

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4. I saw one at my feeder today October 1.

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5. I thought my hummers all had gone I left the feeder up for the bees but today a hummer was here October 13 2024 filled the feeder up again for it I live in Nicholasville Kentucky

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6. I saw one yesterday, in Northern Kentucky

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7. We had some but now there 2 left was wondering of course all the storms and rain could be a reason their still here

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8. You can set your calendar in central Kentucky.. The hummers will leave around October 15th. Saying they leave in August or September is just plain wrong.

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   1. I have only seen one hummingbird in the last 3 days. Usually they travel in pairs.

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   2. That is good to know

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9. I haven’t seen one since about October 13th this year. I’m in Edmonson County, KY on Nolin Lake.

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10. Saw my last hummingbird October 8th in Lexington!

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11. Still seeing one daily, on October 7th still coming to feeder in Louisville.

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12. I’ve still got at least 10 around my feeders throughout the day. Grayson County Ky.

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13. Saw one 2 days ago in Hopkinsville.

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14. October 3 with no hummers for a week… safe flight south my beauties! From Louisville, KY

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15. October 1, have three at feeder on Ky Lake near Murray Ky!

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16. I have a pair at my feder today Saturdsy Sept,30 in Alvany,KY, Greg Tompkins

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17. I have seen 1 in my yard Sept 24 2023 when will he/she migrate? Liberty KY

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18. It is September 22nd a I still have about 8 birds. They haven’t slowed down yet. I love watching them. So darn cute and funny. Western KY. Caldwell County.

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19. I still have 5 on 21st

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    1. Still here in Lexington on the 24th!

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20. 9/22/23 Georgetown, KY Active feeders. 2 two days ago, but none since. Sad to see them go, but wish them well on their journey!

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21. I have seen a few hummingbirds today . I’m in western Kentucky. Today is September 20th.

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    1. I am in southeastern Kentucky and I seen hummingbirds at my feeder today.

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22. In Shelbyville KY we still have two feeding heavily as of Sep 19.

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23. Just saw a couple at the feeders am September 18. They seem super busy. Southeast ky. 50 miles north of Tennessee. A bit warmer in this location

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24. September 7th and the regulars are gone. The northern hummingbirds are hanging about still.

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25. First part of October.

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    1. Thank you, Letitia. I’m near Bowling Green, Ky. I just wondered if you or anyone else has seen hummingbirds that haven’t migrated?

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       1. We had a dozen of them here in Verona KY yesterday and have only seen 1 today. Those 12 have been here most of the summer.

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