Spring is an exciting time for backyard bird watchers. You finally clean your nectar feeders, mix up a fresh batch of sugar water, and hang them outside. Within a few days, you might spot your first hummingbird of the season. But if you look closely, you will probably notice something interesting. Almost every hummingbird visiting your yard early in the spring is male. If you are wondering where the females are, you are not alone. Female hummingbirds actually arrive about 10 days after the males in a predictable pattern known as the second wave.

Why Males Arrive First

When the hummingbird migration begins, the males will set out first. They are seeking out the best sources of food.

When they find them, they will stake out a territory and defend it from other males. Male hummingbirds will arrive first.

They depart about a week before the females so that they can seek out food sources and establish territories around them. They will fiercely defend these territories from other hummingbirds and sometimes larger birds and even animals!

The males arrive first, from about the beginning of March through the beginning of May. They find the best food sources and establish territories that they guard fiercely, especially from other males.

Why do the males rush ahead? Male hummingbirds act as the advance guard for the migration season. Their primary goal is to claim the best possible territory before anyone else gets there. A good territory needs to have reliable food sources and excellent perches for keeping watch. By flying north early, males can scout out the prime real estate in your yard. Once they find a feeder or a patch of early blooming native plants, they will fiercely defend it. This early arrival gives them the best chance to impress the females when they finally show up.

The Second Wave: Why Females Wait

The females have a completely different set of priorities. While males are busy fighting over territory, females are preparing for the exhausting work of building nests, laying eggs, and raising chicks entirely on their own. They wait about 10 days to migrate because they need the environment to be perfectly ready for them. By delaying their journey, females ensure that more spring flowers are blooming. They also wait for insect populations to increase, since tiny spiders and gnats provide the crucial protein they need to feed their babies. Waiting also protects them from late spring cold snaps that could drain their energy reserves.

Migration Behavior Comparison

To help you understand what is happening in your yard this spring, here is a quick breakdown of how male and female hummingbirds tackle migration differently.

Feature	Male Hummingbirds	Female Hummingbirds
Arrival Timing	Early spring (the advance guard)	About 10 days later (the second wave)
Primary Goal	Claim and defend territory	Find safe nesting sites and abundant food
Feeder Behavior	Aggressive, chases other birds away	Cautious, visits quickly for energy
Energy Strategy	Burns energy fighting for dominance	Conserves energy for egg-laying and raising young

How to Spot the New Arrivals

The male Ruby-throated hummingbirds typically arrive first, around two weeks before the females. The arrivals may be spread out over a week or two, depending on where they have traveled from and the weather conditions locally and on their migration route.

Females are not as brightly colored, but they are still wonderful to spot! Their white throats are speckled lightly, and they have greenish backs and sides that are less flashy than their male counterparts.

Unlike males, female Ruby-throated hummingbirds have a notched tail instead of a forked one. Spring is a time of new beginnings, including the return of migratory birds to New Mexico.

Hummingbirds are one of the first birds to arrive, typically showing up in early March. Ensure your hummingbird feeders are ready for the first male arrivals to set up territories for the breeding season before the females show up.

How do you know when the second wave has reached your yard? You just need to look at their feathers. Male hummingbirds are famous for their flashy, iridescent throat feathers called gorgets. Depending on the species in your area, these throats might flash bright ruby red or vibrant purple in the sunlight. Female hummingbirds look much more subtle. They typically have plain white or lightly speckled throats and softer green backs. This muted coloring is actually a survival tool. It helps them blend in perfectly with the trees and bushes while they sit on their nests. You might also notice that females behave a bit differently at your feeders. While males often hover aggressively and chase other birds away, females tend to sneak in quietly for a quick drink before darting back to the trees.

Preparing Your Yard for Nesting Season

Remember, providing water sources and nesting sites as well as nectar and insects for these birds to eat is also essential in providing hummingbirds with what they need and attracting them to your New Hampshire garden.

When the second wave arrives, your yard transitions from a simple feeding station into a potential nursery. You do not need expensive equipment to help them out. A few simple adjustments to your routine will give nesting females exactly what they need.

Enjoying the Season

Spring in Alabama really can put a spring in your step, with wildflowers aplenty, and plenty of wonderful wildlife to enjoy. The spring hummingbird migration is one of the wonders of the season and shows us that warmer weather is on its way.

Some hummingbirds may be early arrivals, and migration patterns can vary year to year, so you can always put your feeders out a few weeks early to ensure that you don’t miss the beginning of the season.

Watching the spring hummingbird migration unfold is incredibly rewarding. Once you understand the rhythm of the advance guard and the second wave, you will appreciate those early spring visitors even more. Keep your feeders clean, watch for those subtle female arrivals, and enjoy the busy nesting season ahead.

Hummingbird arrival timing

Spec	What our writers say
Who arrives first	Males set out first to find food and stake territory
Male window	From about the beginning of March through the beginning of May
Lead time	Males depart about a week before the females
Another lead time	Males typically arrive around two weeks before the females
Early birds	Early arrivals are usually males establishing territories
Feeders	Put them out a week or two before the first hummingbirds
Female look	White throats speckled lightly, notched tail instead of forked

Keep reading

• The ‘Second Wave’ Hummingbird Arrival: Why Females Show Up 10 Days After Males
• Why Female Hummingbirds Choose One Yard Out of Seven (The Invisible Checklist)
• What Is a Group of Hummingbirds Called?