Spring Hummingbird Season in Virginia: What to Expect This Year

Hello friends and fellow bird lovers!

Springtime in the Commonwealth is lovely, but honestly, what we are really waiting for is that first iridescent flash. That moment when the aerial jewels, the hummingbirds Virginia, arrive back from their long, unbelievable journey south. This year, the excitement feels higher than ever. It is time to get those hummingbird feeder stations scrubbed clean and filled up because the 2024 hummingbird migration is about to hit our yards!

We are not talking about some small, insignificant event here. We are talking about the return of the ruby throated hummingbirds, the undisputed champion of hummingbirds Virginia. If you live here, these are the tiny dynamos you see all summer long. Their journey is epic, and seeing them back means winter is truly, officially done. Everyone who loves watching hummingbirds Virginia knows that mid-April is the magic window, but there are always a few early birds. It makes you feel so good to know they made it.

When to Expect the Air Show

The general wisdom says that the peak of hummingbird migration for us here in Virginia lands right around the third week of April. Sometimes, if the weather is warm, they push north a little faster. These ruby throated hummingbirds fly thousands of miles to get here, crossing the Gulf of Mexico in a single, non-stop flight. It is utterly incredible what a three-gram bird can do.

You should have your hummingbird feeder ready to go by April 10th at the very latest. Do not wait until you see the first one, because that one bird is going to be extremely hungry and relying on you. When you prepare for the main wave of hummingbirds Virginia, being early is much better than being late. Think of it as opening the most important roadside diner for the travelers.

The Champion Flier: Ruby Throated Hummingbirds

The vast majority, well over 90 percent of the little flying friends you will host this season, are the beautiful ruby throated hummingbirds. They are the most common of all the hummingbirds Virginia gets. The males show up first, rocking that brilliant, shimmering red throat which is called a gorget, you know and they immediately start buzzing around staking out the best spots. They are feisty creatures, always defending their patches of flowers and the nearest hummingbird feeder.

These ruby throated hummingbirds are here to breed, which is why they are so territorial. It is all about securing the best source of hummingbird food and then doing those amazing J-shaped display dives to impress a female. The springtime energy of hummingbirds Virginia is something truly wonderful to witness, as these tiny birds settle in to raise their families.

Getting Your Backyard Ready for Hummingbirds Virginia

If you want to support this amazing hummingbird migration, the most important thing is your setup. A clean, well-placed hummingbird feeder is truly essential. Remember, you are competing with natural hummingbird nectar sources, so your artificial supply needs to be top notch. I always suggest hanging the hummingbird feeder in dappled shade, maybe about five or six feet high. This location slows down the spoilage of the hummingbird food and protects those little visitors from surprise attacks by neighborhood cats.

The biggest mistake people make when trying to attract hummingbirds Virginia is buying that chemical red dye stuff. It is completely unnecessary and not good for the birds! Hummingbirds are naturally attracted to the color red in the plastic or glass of the feeder itself.

The Right Hummingbird Nectar Recipe is Easy

Making your own safe hummingbird food is so simple, and it makes all the difference for the hummingbirds Virginia depends on. The recipe is one hundred percent basic, just like the real hummingbird nectar in flowers. You need: one part plain white granulated sugar mixed with four parts water. That is it.

Boil the water, stir the sugar until it is completely dissolved, let it cool down to room temperature, and then fill your clean hummingbird feeder. Do not use brown sugar, do not use honey, and never ever use food coloring. Using good, clean hummingbird nectar is your best bet for the successful return of the ruby throated hummingbirds. In the heat of a Virginia summer, you need to change the hummingbird food every three days, maybe even more often, to prevent deadly mold. Keep that hummingbird feeder spotless.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Rare Visitors

While the ruby throated hummingbirds are the stars of the show, serious bird watchers who love hummingbirds Virginia know that we sometimes get visitors who are lost. After the peak spring hummingbird migration, keep looking. Sometimes, in the fall, we see the amazing rufous hummingbird. Now, a rufous hummingbird breeds way up in the Pacific Northwest, so seeing one here is a big deal. They are known for being exceptionally aggressive at the hummingbird feeder and have a beautiful coppery color.

Even rarer, but thrilling, is the tiny Bee hummingbird. This is the smallest bird in the entire world. A Bee hummingbird is native to Cuba and only shows up in hummingbirds Virginia reports when it gets blown way off course by a hurricane or storm system. I mean, imagine spotting a Bee hummingbird in your backyard! It is a true testament to the power of hummingbird migration that these vagrants sometimes make it here, and a clean source of hummingbird nectar could be their only lifeline. The sight of a tiny rufous hummingbird is always a treat, but a Bee hummingbird would be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of moment for hummingbirds Virginia enthusiasts. We need to be ready with our hummingbird food just in case they land.

It is going to be a fantastic season for hummingbirds Virginia. Make sure your hummingbird feeder is full of fresh hummingbird nectar, your yard is planted with colorful, nectar-rich flowers, and you are ready to welcome the ruby throated hummingbirds back from their incredible hummingbird migration. Do not forget to look for that fiery, out-of-place rufous hummingbird this fall, too, but for now, let us focus on welcoming the spring wave of hummingbirds Virginia home. We are prepared, and they are almost here!