Hummingbirds are tiny birds known to fly fast by flapping their wings at a great speed. They are usually seen migrating to different places, so many of you might wonder when you’ll be able to see these tiny birds in your backyard or garden. If you are from Texas, and wondering when to put out hummingbird feeders, continue reading this article.
There are various species of hummingbirds that you can see in Texas. You might notice some species all-round the year while some are seasonal and some can be rarely seen in Texas. 17 hummingbird species are observed in Texas, and you can experience some in your backyard every day if you keep good nectar for them. Below is the list of the species found in Texas categorized as Residential, Seasonal and Rare.
Residential Hummingbird Species
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Buff-bellied Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
Seasonal Hummingbird Species
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Lucifer Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Rivoli’s Hummingbird
- Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Rare/Accidental Hummingbird Species
- Broad-billed Hummingbird
- Allen’s Hummingbird
- Mexican Violetear
- Violet-crowned Hummingbird
- White-eared Hummingbird
- Costa’s Hummingbird
- Green-breasted Mango
When to put out hummingbird feeders in Texas?
Hummingbirds are migratory birds, and therefore they are seen traveling to different places. In Texas, the hummingbirds are seen in the spring season, which is in the beginning, or the mid of March, and then leave Texas in October. Therefore, you can put the feeder one week in advance in your balcony or backyard and keep it until October. Also, some of the hummingbirds in the southern part of Texas might stay throughout the winter as well.
Keeping the feeders ready in advance will help you feed the early comers; some hummingbirds may reach the destination early due to their great flying speed.
Let us have a look at when these hummingbirds are seen in the different cities of Texas.
Houston
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are expected to migrate during this season, whereas the Black-chinned hummingbird’s possibility is rare during the spring. In the beginning of March, all the early hummingbirds arrive in Texas. But, in between of 20th & 25th of March, you can notice a huge number of male hummingbirds, and later in the second week of April, female hummingbirds join them.
In Texas, the hummingbirds can be seen leaving the state in October, and in the middle of the month, they become almost difficult to find, and by the month’s end, all the hummingbirds leave the place.
San Antonio
You can see hummingbirds in this region from 7th March till 1st November. Still, the count of hummingbirds might reduce during the winter season, and therefore keeping your feeders hanging year-round is optional.
Black-chinned Hummingbird & Ruby-throated hummingbirds are seen here during the migration season. They will be seen in large numbers in the mid of April and then will be seen in more consistent numbers during September. But during the fall, the Black-chinned hummingbird will decline in large numbers after the September first week, and the Ruby-throated hummingbird will remain till the end of October.
Rufous hummingbirds are also seen in low numbers from August to March. Therefore, you can hang your feeder filled with fresh sugar water in the colder months to attract hummingbirds.
Austin
Hummingbirds are seen in Austin from around 10th March till 15th October. Black-chinned hummingbirds and Ruby-throated hummingbirds are seen in large numbers during the migration season.
Black-chinned hummingbirds are present in the summer season, and almost all leave the area by 20th September, but the Ruby-throated hummingbirds are seen till mid to late October. Rufous hummingbirds are the regular birds during the winter season and are seen in large numbers to the west of Austin in the Hill country.
Dallas
Hummingbirds arrive in Dallas from the 1st April till 10th October. They are seen in large numbers by late April, and most of them leave the area by the beginning of October.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds arrive in the east of Dallas in April and leave the area by 20th September. You might see few hummingbirds of this species in your area till the September end or by the first week of October. Therefore hanging the feeder for long is up to you.
Mc Allen
This is the farthest valley located in South Texas and is the most well-known place to watch for hummingbirds as they are always seen here at any time of the year. But during the migration period, you can expect them in large numbers during April & September as the Black-chinned hummingbird, and Ruby-throated hummingbirds from the other regions pass through this region.
Buff-bellied Hummingbirds are the residents of Mc Allen, but you can also see Ruby-throated and black-chinned hummingbirds the whole time except in June & July.
If you reside here, you can hang the feeders all around the year to welcome the residential and the migratory hummingbirds to feed nectar from the feeders in your yard or balcony.
Tips for attracting hummingbirds to the feeders in Texas
Here are some tips that can help you to attract the tiny hummingbirds to your balcony or yard.
- Similar to other birds, even hummingbirds need shelter. Therefore, you can plant shrubs and bushes that can act as both food and shelter for the hummingbirds.
- You can either keep good fresh nectar in your feeder or plant nectar-producing plants in your garden to attract these birds.
- Try to keep nectar in more than one location. You can install hummingbird feeders in multiple locations in the garden.
- Plant beautiful colorful flower plants as hummingbirds are attracted by colors.
- Keep fresh water baths for hummingbirds to drink water and clean themselves. You can install a water wiggler to vibrate the water and make it look like moving. Hummingbirds are attracted to moving water rather than still water.
When to put down the feeders?
Hummingbirds arrive in Texas in March and leave the place in October. So for a safer side, you can hang the feeder till the first week of November so that if any bird is still there in Texas, the feeder can be a source of food for them.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are observed in different regions of Texas during the migration season. I hope this article has given you some idea of approx. when the hummingbirds might arrive in your region and by when you have to keep your feeders ready with filled nectars in your yard.
