Spotted first one of the season this afternoon! Male ,ruby-throated, made a quick stop then about 10 minutes later on again on the other feeder, yaay!! But don't think they are same ones that were here as they ignored me, smile...home gems used to do happy dance with dips to greet me and express their joy of making it back, would do happy dance when their babies started flying....wish there was a way to track them, also wish they were banded, but main thing they are back. Weather to be around 40 on sat, as long as it doesn't freeze, but did think they'd wait a while. Now off to mark the date on the map. Bea in Belle Chasse La ( near New Orleans )

I've seen a few over the past few days, drinking from my new salvias. This is the earliest I've ever seen them (although according to the map, they've been here for a month already!)

Hi, Marcia and Kate, you ladies always have something helpful to add. I have put the link to the Ruby-throat hummingbird migration map below. One of the interesting things about it is the delineation where no sightings are reported. That line pretty much marks the difference of sightings for the state. Those south of that line see most of theirs starting in Ocober and go through the winter months. Those of us north of the line see the Ruby-throats with the general migration, starting at the end of February and early March. I think I saw my first one this year on March 2. I have seen a few Ruby-throats in early October, but most of mine are gone by the last week of September. Marcia, as always, was right when she said that we do see some Rufous hummingbirds in the winter months, but not many. Along the West coast and in northern Florida they see different types, including black-chinned hummers. There's a guy a little north of Tampa who reported three or four different types. Like most of you, I don't put out feeders. I did at one time, but they seemed to prefer the flowers. It'd be great to hear from some folks in southern Florida. Here is a link that might be useful: Hummingbird migration map

Bellarosa - You better believe there are hummingbirds here! Technically only Ruby-throated Hummingbirds breed/migrate through Illinois, but once in a while a migrant might blow in from the west (when I lived in NYC we got all sorts of crazy things in Central Park! Now THAT'S a long way from California!). I put up my first feeder in the spring here in Evanston and had one female for a couple days ... then.. nothing. I took down the feeder until late August - and have had a female visit several times a day until yesterday - when I saw a young male as well. Hard to tell if they're the same birds or just a bunch passing though, as migration has indeed started. I planted Scarlet Runner Bean along our (gorgeous, lovely, glamourous) chain-link fence. I've seen the hummingbirds visit those blooms, and also my Honeycomb Butterfly Bush (which may not be hardy in your area)... I have plans for many more perennial/annual plantings to convince the buggers that my yard is a lush buffet. Now that they know that there's food here, maybe they'll stay NEXT year! Here's a great map showing the northward migration of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. They really are everywhere! Good luck, Sandy Here is a link that might be useful: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Migration Map