Maine: Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds – A Complete Guide
Ruby‑throated Hummingbirds are the only hummingbirds that regularly spend the summer in Maine.
They arrive in late April to mid‑May, nest across the state, then migrate south by early October, with only rare western hummingbirds showing up in fall.
Key takeaways
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Ruby‑throated Hummingbird is Maine’s only regular hummingbird; other species are very rare fall or winter vagrants.
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Put feeders out by mid‑April and keep them up until at least the first week of October.
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Use a simple 4‑to‑1 sugar‑water recipe with no red dye, and clean feeders frequently in warm weather.
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Native plants like wild columbine, beardtongue, honeysuckles, bee balm, jewelweed, and cardinal flower are excellent for Maine hummingbirds.
What hummingbirds live in Maine?
Maine’s situation is straightforward.
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Ruby‑throated Hummingbird – The only species that regularly breeds and summers in Maine, arriving in late April/early May and leaving by early October.
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Rare visitors – Maine Audubon notes that other western hummingbirds occasionally wander east and may appear in fall or winter, but these are exceptional records rather than birds you should expect.
If you see a hummingbird in your Maine yard, it’s almost certainly a Ruby‑throat.
When do hummingbirds visit Maine?
Maine is on the northern edge of the Ruby‑throat’s breeding range, so arrival is late compared to much of the U.S.
Maine Audubon and local news outline the timing:
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Spring arrival
- Ruby‑throats typically reach Maine around late April into early to mid‑May, with many people seeing their first birds near Mother’s Day.
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Summer nesting
- Ruby‑throats nest across the state once flowers and insects are abundant, with activity through June and July.
Fall departure
- Most Ruby‑throats have left Maine by the first week of October, though a few may linger a bit longer.
Practical feeder timing:
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Have feeders out by mid‑April so early migrants find nectar waiting; New England guidance suggests early–mid April to avoid missing the first birds.
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Keep feeders up through the first week of October; Maine Audubon recommends leaving them until migration is essentially done, and not worrying that feeders will stop birds from migrating.
Best nectar recipe for Maine hummingbirds
Use the standard recipe you give everywhere else.
From general expert guidance:
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1 part white granulated sugar
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4 parts clean water
Instructions:
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Heat water, stir in sugar until fully dissolved, then cool before filling feeders.
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Store extra nectar in the refrigerator and use within about a week.
Guidelines:
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Use only plain white table sugar; avoid honey, brown or raw sugar, and artificial sweeteners.
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Skip red dye; the red on the feeder is enough to attract birds.
How often to clean feeders in Maine
Maine doesn’t have southern‑style heat, but summer days still spoil nectar quickly.
Based on general hummingbird‑feeder guidance:
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In mild or cool spring and fall weather, change nectar and clean feeders every 3–4 days.
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In warm summer stretches, clean feeders every 2 days, and sooner if nectar looks cloudy or stringy.
Cleaning basics:
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Empty nectar, rinse with hot water, and scrub with brushes.
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Use a mild vinegar solution for stubborn residue, then rinse thoroughly.
This schedule works well for Maine’s relatively short hummingbird season.
Keeping your feeder truly clean is one of the most important—and most confusing—parts of feeding hummingbirds. This step‑by‑step guide shows you exactly how to clean a hummingbird feeder with vinegar or bleach, how often to change nectar at different temperatures, how to spot mold before it becomes a problem, and which feeder designs, brushes, and ant moats make the job much easier. It even covers how to keep bees and ants away and includes a video walk through, so if you’d like clear, simple instructions you can follow with confidence, you can learn more here.
Where to hang hummingbird feeders in Maine
Placement is about sun, visibility, and safety.
Tips that apply well in Maine:
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Aim for morning sun and afternoon shade, or bright dappled shade, to keep nectar from overheating on warm days.
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Hang feeders near flower beds, shrubs, or woodland edges, so hummingbirds can move between natural nectar and feeders.
- Place feeders about 4–6 feet off the ground with clear flight paths and away from dense cover where cats might hide.
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Keep feeders a little away from large windows or use decals to reduce collision risk.
- If birds get feisty, add a second feeder on the opposite side of the house to give quieter birds another option.
I also wrote a more in‑depth guide on how to choose the best place to hang your hummingbird feeder.Discover exactly where to hang your hummingbird feeder for the best results. This complete guide walks you through sunlight and shade, height, distance from windows, wind and predator protection, and how close to place feeders to flowers so hummingbirds feel safe and visit often. You’ll also get practical tips on window feeders, hanging hardware, cleaning schedules by temperature, and simple tricks to stop ants and other pests. Click here for everything you need to turn one well‑placed feeder into a busy hummingbird hotspot.
Native plants that attract hummingbirds in Maine
Maine Audubon gives an excellent set of native plants that match Ruby‑throat timing.
Spring and early summer bloomers
- Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) – blooms in May, welcoming the first returning hummingbirds.
- Native beardtongues (Penstemon digitalis, P. hirsutus) – tubular flowers in late spring/early summer.
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Flowering shrubs like serviceberries and dogwoods also provide early nectar and insect habitat.
Mid‑summer favorites
- Wild bergamot / bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) – starts blooming in July and is a favored forage plant.
- Native honeysuckles such as Northern bush honeysuckle and American honeysuckle; Maine has several native species that hummingbirds use.
Late‑season fuel
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Orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) – important food sources in late summer as hummingbirds prepare for migration.
Note: plant a mix of these so there’s nectar from May through September.
Creating a Hummingbird‑friendly yard in Maine
You can think of your yard as a small habitat that offers hummingbirds food, shelter, safe nesting spots, and clean water. A mix of native plants, smart layout, and chemical‑free maintenance will bring more hummingbirds than feeders alone.
Plant layers of native vegetation
- Combine small trees, shrubs, vines, and flowering perennials to create a tiered garden with cover and perches at different heights.
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Whenever possible, choose locally native plants, which support more insects and spiders for hummingbirds to eat and provide the flower shapes they evolved with.
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In a Maine yard, you can create a three‑layer hummingbird border along a 10‑ to 15‑foot fence or woodland edge. In the back layer, keep or plant a few native small trees such as birch, serviceberry, or young oak, spaced 8–10 feet apart to provide perches, shade, and nesting sites. In front of them, add a middle band of shrubs and taller perennials—clumps of native honeysuckles or bush honeysuckle, plus drifts of wild bergamot and beardtongue every 2–3 feet—to give hummingbirds a long ribbon of mid‑season blooms. Along the front edge in the sunniest strip, mass lower plants such as wild columbine near the back‑door step for May arrivals, then jewelweed and cardinal flower in any moist spots at 18–24‑inch spacing to keep nectar flowing into September. This simple layered design fits a typical Maine yard and gives Ruby‑throated Hummingbirds safe cover, high perches, and continuous nectar at several heights from their May arrival through fall migration.
Plan for blooms from spring through fall
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Include early, mid‑season, and late‑blooming plants so something is always flowering when hummingbirds are present in your area.
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Plant in groups or drifts rather than single plants so hummingbirds can feed efficiently and find flowers more easily.
- My special guide The Art of Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Yard will provide you with lists of hummingbird-attracting plants that bloom during each season: spring, summer and fall. It makes it easy for you to select plants that will provide continuous blooms for your hummingbirds during the time they are visiting your yard until the time they leave in the fall. You will also get advice on layering plants for a successful hummingbird garden. My guide also provides plant lists for sun and shade to make it easy to select plants for your particular growing conditions. Planting a “hummingbird-friendly garden” will never be easier!
Use feeders to supplement, not replace, flowers
Feeders provide a reliable nectar source alongside your plants, especially in early spring and late summer when wild blooms may be sparse because of drought or temperature swings. Hang them where they’re visible from your best flower beds so hummingbirds can move naturally between blossoms and sugar water.
Here is my favorite feeder and why I recommend this feeder: HummZinger Ultra 12‑oz Saucer Feeder.
If you’re tired of leaky bottle feeders and constant insect problems, this video explains why a simple saucer‑style Aspects feeder is my go‑to choice. You’ll see how the low, shallow 12‑ounce bowl helps you mix only what your hummingbirds can use before it spoils, while the built‑in ant moat, raised ports, and included Nectar‑Guard tips work together to keep ants, bees, and wasps out of the nectar. The drip‑proof design and twist‑off cover make cleaning and refilling quick and easy, so it’s realistic to keep nectar fresh even in warm weather. Made from tough, UV‑stabilized polycarbonate in the USA and backed by a true lifetime guarantee, this is a “buy it once” feeder you can count on year after year
Provide safe perches and nesting cover
Keep some shrubs, small deciduous trees, and a few dead or thin branches where hummingbirds can rest, display, and build nests. Avoid pruning everything into neat, bare shapes; a slightly softer outline with twiggy tips gives birds more places to sit.
A hummingbird perch or swing is an easy way
to bring hummingbirds to a particular spot near your feeder. Hummingbirds may look like they’re always in motion, but they actually spend a surprising amount of time sitting still between feeding bouts, using perches to rest, preen, digest nectar, and keep watch over their favorite food sources. A simple swing or decorative perch placed a few feet from your feeder gives them a comfortable “guard post” and brings them right into view where you can enjoy them up close. Many people find that once birds adopt a swing as their regular lookout perch, they stay in the yard longer and make more frequent, relaxed visits.
Offer water in a way hummingbirds like
Most people focus on feeders and flowers, but the right water feature can turn your yard into a hummingbird hangout. Hummingbirds prefer shallow, moving water—fine sprays, mists, and droplets on leaves—over deep, still birdbaths. Add a mister, dripper, or fine spray so hummingbirds can bathe in moving droplets on leaves or in a shallow basin.
Consider adding a mister to create a gentle cloud of moving water; 
hummingbirds often fly back and forth through the mist, spreading their wings and tails to bathe without getting waterlogged. Place misters near shrubs or small trees so the droplets collect on leaves, giving birds multiple places to sip and bathe.
You can also install a shallow birdbath with gently sloping edges with gently sloping edges—no more than about an inch of water—gives hummingbirds a place to sip and splash at the edge.
Position water features near, but not directly over, key flower beds so birds can move easily between bathing and feeding.
My detailed guide, How to Use Water Features to Attract Hummingbirds, walks you through the exact kinds of misters, drippers, and shallow baths hummingbirds prefer, how deep and how strong the water flow should be, where to place everything so birds feel safe, and how to keep it all clean without spending a lot of money.
Placing water features for maximum hummingbird activity
Where you place your water features matters as much as what you choose.
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Near cover, not in the open: Position water within a few feet of shrubs, small trees, or tall perennials so hummingbirds can retreat quickly if they feel threatened.
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Partial shade: Light shade keeps water cooler and reduces evaporation while still allowing enough sun for droplets to sparkle.
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Close to nectar plants and feeders: Place water features near your hummingbird‑friendly flowers and feeders so birds can easily move between feeding and bathing.
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Safe viewing distance: Set features where you can see them from a window, patio, or garden bench, but not so close that frequent traffic scares birds away.
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If you have multiple water features, spread them around to reduce territorial conflicts and give more birds access.
For a comprehensive guide on using water features, your article on how to use water features to attract hummingbirds will walk readers through the exact kinds of misters, drippers, and shallow baths hummingbirds prefer, how deep and how strong the water flow should be, where to place everything so birds feel safe, and how to keep it all clean without spending a lot of money.
Skip pesticides and let insects thrive
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Avoid or greatly limit pesticides, especially systemic insecticides, because hummingbirds and their chicks rely heavily on tiny insects and spiders for protein.
- A healthy, chemical‑free yard with native plants will naturally support more insects, which means more high‑quality food for hummingbirds.
My article Natural Pest Control Methods for Your Hummingbird Garden shows readers they don’t have to choose between a healthy hummingbird garden and effective pest control. It explains exactly how to prevent and manage pests using natural methods—companion planting, encouraging “good bugs,” organic sprays like garlic, pepper, and neem, physical barriers, and smart traps—so they protect their plants without poisoning hummingbirds or the insects they eat. It also gives clear, season‑by‑season checklists and safety tips (like where not to spray, how to avoid harming pollinators, and how to keep pest control away from nests and feeders), making it easy to follow even if you’re new to organic gardening. If you want fewer pests, stronger plants, and a garden that’s truly safe for hummingbirds from spring through fall, this is the article for you!
Keep Insects Away From Your Feeder
- Bees, wasps, and ant trails can quickly take over a hummingbird feeder, but you don’t have to give up and bring the feeder in. My detailed guide How to Keep Bees and Ants Away From Your Hummingbird Feeder walks you through the safest, most effective ways to keep pests out of your nectar—using ant moats, bee‑resistant feeders, smarter placement, and even “decoy” feeders that draw insects away—so the sugar water stays clean and available for hummingbirds only. If you’re tired of fighting swarms on your feeders and want a simple plan that actually works, This guide is your proven answer!
Frequently Asked Questions About Maine Hummingbirds
1. What hummingbirds do we see in Maine?
Ruby‑throated Hummingbirds are the only hummingbirds that regularly visit and nest in Maine. Other species from the western U.S. are very rare visitors, usually reported only occasionally in fall or winter.
2. When do hummingbirds arrive in Maine?
Ruby‑throated Hummingbirds usually arrive in Maine from late April into early or mid‑May, often around Mother’s Day. Having feeders ready by mid‑April means you won’t miss the first arrivals.
3. When do hummingbirds leave Maine?
Most Ruby‑throats begin leaving in late summer, and by the first week of October almost all have migrated south. You can take down feeders after you have gone about two weeks without seeing any hummingbirds.
4. What should I put in my hummingbird feeder?
Use a simple nectar mix of 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. Heat the water, stir in sugar until it dissolves, let it cool, and then fill your feeder. Don’t add red dye, honey, or artificial sweeteners.
5. How often should I change the nectar?
In cool spring and fall conditions, change nectar every 3–4 days. During warm summer weather, change it every 2 days or any time it looks cloudy or stringy.
6. Where is the best place to hang a feeder in Maine?
Hang feeders in morning sun and afternoon shade or dappled light, about 4–6 feet off the ground, near flowers or shrubs but not right in dense cover where cats can hide. Keep feeders a little away from big windows.
7. What native plants attract hummingbirds in Maine?
Great choices include wild columbine, native beardtongues, wild bergamot/bee balm, native honeysuckles, orange jewelweed, and cardinal flower. Planting a mix of these provides nectar from May through early fall.
If you’re curious how your state compares to other parts of the country, you can see arrival and departure times for every state in my main guide, “When to Feed Hummingbirds: A State‑by‑State Guide.” It’s a handy overview if you travel, have relatives in other states, or just want to understand the bigger migration picture.
Expert Resources for Maine Hummingbirds
For Maine‑specific information on Ruby‑throated Hummingbirds, timing, and behavior, see the University of Maine Extension “Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Fact Sheet” at https://extension.umaine.edu/signs-of-the-seasons/indicator-species/hummingbird-fact-sheet/
and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands nature note “Flying Jewel: Ruby-throated Hummingbird” at https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/discover_history_explore_nature/nature_exploration/docs/ruby-throated-hummingbird.pdf.
For native plant and habitat recommendations tailored to Maine yards, use Maine Audubon’s article “Keep hummingbirds happy with native plants” at https://maineaudubon.org/news/keep-hummingbirds-happy-with-native-plants/,
along with broader Ruby-throat background from the Audubon field guide at https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/ruby-throated-hummingbird.
