Timing derived from eBird data, 2016–2025 (sourced Aug 2026)

Illinois runs one of the more dramatic hummingbird calendars in the Midwest for its size — a single breeding species that sweeps in from the south over about three weeks, a busy early-September peak, and a quiet winter stretch that most years produces a real visitor worth watching for, and occasionally something genuinely rare. Here's how the year actually unfolds, county by county.

The short answer: early April in southern Illinois, early May in the north, and most are gone again by late October.

New to feeding hummingbirds? Start with our guide to attracting hummingbirds in Illinois for species, feeders, nectar, and native plants. This page is the timing deep dive.

Illinois's Hummingbird Season at a Glance

Before the county-by-county detail below, here's the whole season in two pictures — Ruby-throated's full-season curve, and the winter visitors worth watching for, shown at their own scale since they're a small fraction of Ruby-throated's numbers.

How often each species turns up on eBird checklists, week by week — statewide, 2016–2025. The regional breakdown below shows exactly when that wave reaches your part of the state.

Regional Arrival Snapshot

Windows derived from eBird bar chart data (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), 2016–2025, for Cook, Sangamon, Champaign, St. Clair, and Jackson counties. "First arrivals" is the first week reporting rises clearly above the winter baseline; "reliably common" is the first week each county's reports reach 25% of that county's seasonal peak. About three weeks separates the earliest county (Jackson, far south) from the latest (Cook, far north).

Early April: The First Scouts

These are scattered early individuals, not yet a reliable population — but it's worth having a feeder up in far-southern Illinois by this point.

Mid-April – Mid-May: The Wave Moves North

This is Illinois's real spring story: Ruby-throated becomes reliably common in a rolling wave that starts in the far south and takes about three weeks to reach Chicago. If you're in Cook County, don't be discouraged if your feeder sits quiet into mid-May — that's normal here.

Late May – Late July: Nesting Season

Illinois's breeding Ruby-throateds settle in and nest statewide. Feeder activity can taper off somewhat as females become secretive around the nest, though it never goes fully silent.

August – October: Southbound Migration

This matches University of Illinois Extension's description of Ruby-throateds migrating south in late summer, with males typically leaving first in August — our own statewide checklist data keeps climbing through August as fledglings join the adults, not peaking until early September, which reflects population growth rather than a contradiction.

November – March: The Quiet Season, With One Regular Exception

By this point in the year, any hummingbird at an Illinois feeder is worth a closer look. Rufous Hummingbird is Illinois's most regular winter visitor, typically peaking in early December. Anna's Hummingbird turns up most winters too, in smaller numbers, often starting a bit earlier in the fall. True rarities occasionally show up as well — Illinois's first-ever confirmed Broad-tailed Hummingbird was found in Champaign County in November 2023, and the state has also documented a single Broad-billed Hummingbird record, both accepted by the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee.

Pop's tip: Illinois doesn't reward keeping a feeder up in winter with regular hummingbird traffic the way the Gulf Coast does — but it does occasionally reward patience with a Rufous or Anna's, or rarely something rarer still. Keep at least one feeder up through the cold months if you like a bit of birding lottery with your coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do hummingbirds come back to Illinois?

Early April in the far south, and about three weeks later in the north. Jackson County (Carbondale) sees the first scouts by early April; Cook County (Chicago) typically follows last, in mid-May.

When do hummingbirds leave Illinois?

Southbound movement starts in August, and most breeding Ruby-throateds are gone from the state by late October. Rufous Hummingbirds arrive as the breeders leave, typically peaking in early December.

How long do hummingbirds stay in Illinois?

Roughly six months for the breeding population, from early April arrival in the south through late October departure. The season runs a few weeks shorter in the north, where they arrive later.

Why is my Chicago feeder quiet in late April?

Because the wave hasn't reached you yet. Ruby-throated becomes reliably common in Cook County by mid-May — about three weeks behind Carbondale. A quiet feeder in late April is normal in northern Illinois.

Should I keep a feeder up through an Illinois winter?

It won't bring regular traffic the way the Gulf Coast does. But most years produce a Rufous Hummingbird report or two statewide, often an Anna's too, and rarely something genuinely rare — Illinois has one documented Broad-tailed Hummingbird record and one Broad-billed.

How We Built This Calendar

We pulled eBird bar chart data for Illinois statewide and for five counties — Cook (Chicago), Sangamon (Springfield), Champaign (Champaign-Urbana), St. Clair (Belleville), and Jackson (Carbondale) — covering 2016 through 2025, and read the seasonal shape and regional pattern directly off the reporting rates ourselves. Percentages describe how often a species appears on birdwatchers' submitted checklists — a measure of how likely you are to encounter one, not a population count.

Sources

• eBird bar chart data, Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Illinois statewide and county-level (Cook, Sangamon, Champaign, St. Clair, Jackson), 2016–2025. Source for all month-by-month seasonal figures and the south-to-north regional arrival pattern.
• University of Illinois Extension, "More than feeders: Attracting hummingbirds to your landscape" (Ken Johnson). Source for statewide arrival timing corroboration.
• University of Illinois Extension, "Gardening for a hummingbird's travels". Source for fall departure timing.
• Illinois Ornithological Records Committee. Source for Illinois's documented rarity records, including the Broad-tailed Hummingbird first state record.

Event dates and formats change from year to year. Check organizer websites before making plans.

Want feeder setup, nectar ratios, and native plant picks for your part of the state? See our full guide to attracting hummingbirds in Illinois.