Texas winter Hummingbirds are here. Although most hummers leave the Lone Star State in the winter, some remain. Additionally others wander along the Gulf Coast throughout the winter. During the migration I have many Ruby throated hummingbirds passing through. During the summer the birds frequent my feeders.
I live in Southeast Coastal Texas, close to Houston and I keep feeders up all year long. This provides food for Texas Winter Hummingbirds. Rufous, Black chinned, Ruby throated, Broad-tailed, Broad billed, Calliope and Buff bellied sometimes come to winter feeders.
I’m still hopeful that a Rufous or a Black chinned will show up. So don’t take your feeders down in the winter. You may get a surprise.
UPDATE: Nov, 08 2021: November is here and it’s time to chronicle the upcoming winter humming bird season. It has been quiet for a few weeks now following an influx of migrating Ruby throated hummingbirds. However over the past few days I’ve seen a couple birds visiting my yard. I finally got the opportunity to investigate. As a result my first report for this season includes a Rufous female and and a lingering female Ruby throated. Pictures of the Rufous didn’t happen today but I managed to image the Ruby throated female. This bird was very happy with feeding on my shrimp plants but also visited my feeders.
Texas Winter Hummingbirds 2020-2021
UPDATE April 7th 2021: Spring arrival marks the end of the Texas Winter Hummingbird season. My group of Rufous hummingbirds have gone. Presumably north and west to their breeding grounds. They have been replaced by Ruby throated hummers that visit my feeders frequently now. There is a good chance that I’ll see the Rufous again next winter.
UPDATE March 15th 2021: I still have an immature Rufous visiting the feeders and this morning I saw the first migrant spring Ruby throated hummer. – An adult male. Strong south/southeast winds over the past few days may have given the migrants an assist on their journey.
UPDATE March 3 2021: A single Rufous Hummingbird is still visiting my feeders multiple times during the day
UPDATE February 23 2021: A week after the big freeze in Texas, I have 2 Rufous Hummingbirds still visiting my feeders. One is an immature female and the other an immature male.
UPDATE February 16 2021: The coldest day so far for Texas Winter Hummingbirds. Coastal Harris county saw temperatures of 18 F this morning. No power for 25 hours. However the sun is out and I have a Rufous basking and frequently visiting the feeders.
UPDATE February 15 2021: A very cold day for Texas Winter Hummingbirds. Coastal Harris county saw temperatures of 19 F this morning with a high of about 26 F. In spite of the grossly unseasonable temperatures I still observed two Rufous Hummingbirds for most of the day. I did have to juggle feeders in and out of the house as they were freezing after about 2 1/2 hours of exposure. Considering I didn’t have power for 8 hours during the day, it was a cold exercise! Tonight it’s forecast to drop to 10 F, so I’ll make sure the birds have nectar at dawn.
UPDATE February 14 2021: For the past 2 weeks I’ve only had a single immature Rufous female. On the eve of the Big Texas Freeze, my solo bird has been joined by another immature Rufous. The temps are going to plummet below freezing for the next 2 days. It will be stressful for these birds, but I plan to keep them supplied with adequate warmed nectar til the danger passes. Stay tuned for updates.
UPDATE January 16 2021: – Continuing Rufous visited the feeders today. From the photos it is clear that there are now at least 4 different birds. I also had a visit from a Ruby-throated today, and added a photo.
UPDATE January 11 2021: – Continuing Rufous visited the feeders today. From the photos it is clear that there are at least 3 different birds. I also had a visit from a Ruby-throated today, but no opportunity for a photo.
UPDATE January 10 2021: – Continuing Rufous visited the feeders all day today. Cold and wet weather with the coldest night of the year tonight.
UPDATE January 09 2021: – Continuing Rufous visited the feeders today.
UPDATE January 08 2021: – An immature male Rufous visited the feeders today.
UPDATE January 05 2021: – A Female Rufous visited the feeders today.
UPDATE January 03 2021: – The Rufous is continuing his daily visits. A visit today from an immature Ruby-throated. Sex unknown.
UPDATE Christmas Day 2020: – The Rufous is continuing his daily visits.
UPDATE December 02 2020: – I added an additional photo and there are at least 2 individuals visiting the feeder.
UPDATE December 03 2020: – I added an additional photos
UPDATE December 01 2020: – Today I had an immature Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird at my feeder. I’ll keep my eyes open and my camera ready in case it shows up again. Photo quality is poor. I had to take it through a window on a rainy dark morning. Hopefully I’ll get some better shots soon.
The following three photos were sent to me by a reader. They were taken in Flint, TX, just south of Tyler,Texas. A female Ruby-throated hummingbird in an uncommon snowstorm. The photos were taken on January 10, 2021. Thanks Janet S!
After reviewing some fall photos, I’m pretty sure that I had a visit from an immature Ruby throated on October 16, 2020. Picture quality is poor.
Texas Winter Hummingbirds 2018-2019
I had several Texas Winter Hummingbirds during the winter of 2018-2019. Most disappeared after the migration. However since November at least two different birds have appeared. I currently have daily visits from an immature male Ruby throated hummingbird.
The colder weather hasn’t driven him away. He may stay all winter. He has a ready, clean supply of nectar. I see him visiting the feeder and roosting in a nearby lemon tree. I have seen him nearly every day since early November.
The maps below shows Ruby-throated sightings from Nov-Feb in the past ten years and December sightings of Rufous. The data is provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
A January 4, 2018 update. He made it through the coldest night so far this winter. 37 F. He is happily feeding today under warmer and sunny skies. A few small red gorget feathers are visible.
January 15th 2019 Update. Still visiting the feeder multiple times each day.
January 22nd 2019 Update. Still visiting the feeder multiple times each day.
February 11th 2019 Update. Still visiting the feeder multiple times each day.
Check out my Brazoria Bird Collection for more local bird photos.
For posts on individual species, navigate to the “Birds I have Known” category
Check out some Ruby Throated Hummingbird video during migration
Dec. 18, 2023
I have just had a hummingbird visit my feeder. In the last few weeks there have been two of them. I think one male and one female Roufus. I am very surprised at this, but will continue to keep my feeder out with fresh nectar.
I live very close to both The Gulf of Mexico and old Mexico as in right on the border. It is now mid October and I still have hummingbirds dropping by to eat several times a day. Only a few so my question would be how many feeders should I try to keep filled ? At the peak of the season I usually have 5 out but now with so few birds I can’t see keeping them all freshly filled.. Any and all opinions are welcome….just looking for others with more experience that we have….
I would leave them all up. Sometimes the hummers prefer different locations. Don’t fill them all the way, just an inch or two at the bottom so you don’t waste nectar. You still need to change out nectar every few days especially if the weather is warm. It does get cloudy pretty quick. It lasts longer when the weather cools.
I’m still seeing 1 ruby here in Galveston. She’s been coming for the last 2 days which led me to question keeping my feeders out for winter, thus landed on this page. Are you near Galveston? Please say yes!! I would absolutely faint if I saw a rufous.
I currently have 3 or 4 Rubys. I have had 2 different Rufous over the past two weeks. Last year after the RT’s left I had 5 different Rufous during the winter. I leave my feeders up all winter. I’m in the Clear Lake area.
I am surprised and excited to learn about wintering hummingbirds in south Texas and Houston. I put my feeder up last year and took down for winter. I put it out early this year and I think my former visitor returned to it (stayed for winter?). A couple weeks later I got a flock of about 6 migraters that left last week. But my lone rufous is still visiting; just less frequently. I am inclined to leave 1 of my 3 feeders up. I have a wrap around patio with cover and they were flying all over and into my patio.
Do they visit/eat less frequently in the cooler weather? I see someone warmed the nectar (I guess that makes sense so it doesn’t freeze). Any helpful hints?
Keep your feeders up. They will come! Rufous are frequent visitors in the winter.
Ok you now having me convince to leave out my feeders, during the winter, , doubt we will get 0* weather this year
Do hummingbirds have preferences regarding feeder location? Will they visit feeders under a covered patio?
As long as there is clear ingress and egress they should be good with a covered patio. Benefits of placing a feeder under a covered patio are shade, protection from rain and the nectar doesn’t get as hot. The downside is, it is more difficult for the birds to initially find the feeder. Just make sure it’s a clear entry in and out and they’ll probably use it. I have 4 feeders and one is under a breezeway. It is heavily used.
I have a rufous kinda orange on back feathers. It is February 14 Victoria Tx so worried it’s going to be in the low teens for next two day. Wish I could put a little house out!
Another one showed up today. I feel better that they are not alone. I am keeping clean sugar water out. I pray these little beautiful hummingbirds make it. ??????????????
Take your feeders in at dark, keep them warm and put them back out before daylight.
I live in central Texas and 1 hummingbird is still here, temperatures are in the single digits and he is still here.
I put a heat lamp next to the feeder to keep it from freezing. Can’t believe it can survive in this cold weather.
Take your feeders in at dark, keep them warm and put them back out before daylight.
Temperature here at 78245 is 31 F measured. I have one hummingbird feeder outside the back door that is visited daily by at least two. I can’t identify them by color as the feeder is against a bright sky. When they come they linger for more than five minutes, feeding deeply. I have been bringing the feeder in at night when a freeze is predicted, and putting it back out in the morning. I learned today that 4:1 sugar water doesn’t freeze above 27-28 degrees. I wish more people made an effort to keep their feeders out during the winter. I also learned about a study done in the Andes about hummingbirds going into short term hibernation called torpor, lowering their body temperature and conserving energy, requiring less food.
Take your feeders in at dark, keep them warm and put them back out before daylight.
I read in winter to change to a 3 to 1 sugar water ratio, Jan – March. Read the birds need the added sugar to survive colder temps in winter. Have you ever heard this and what are your thoughts since you stick to a 4 to 1 sugar water ratio?
I have heard that, however I do know that too highly concentrated solutions are not good. I had Rufous Hummingbirds all last winter (even during our “big freeze”) and they seemed quite OK with 4:1. My biggest problem was keeping the nectar from freezing. 3:1 will lower the freezing temperature of the nectar though.
Hummingbird has not left this area just saw it feeding. Have not taken the feeder down since last spring because I have had hummingbirds feeding every day. Have not seen hummingbirds staying this long is it common? It is 01-14-2021 @ 1:00 PM
Your location isn’t mentioned, however Hummingbirds are regular visitors to Texas in the winter. The majority of sightings in Dec-Feb are south central Texas (Like San Antonio) and along the coast.
They wander a lot in the winter and there are winter sightings as far north as New York and even into Canada. They are prolific travelers. If you have a photo, it would be helpful identifying the species. I have sent you and e-mail.
Send me a pic and I’ll post it.
Update: Posted on 01/11/20
I have had a female/immature rufous for the last two weeks in the Ft Worth area. The feeder came back out and now he has access to nectar.
That’s great!. Lots of people are reporting winter Rufous this year. I still have multiple visits each day from what I believe are 2 different birds and a Ruby throated. Still keeping my out for a Buff-bellied
So glad I found this site.
Dec 29, 2020 San Antonio, There’s a small brownish hummingbird visiting my feeder.
In Nov. one flew up to my face and chattered at me for not having the feeder up.
So, like many, I’ll start leaving my feeder up in winter.
Sounds like its probably an immature or female Rufous.
We live in Stagecoach which is NW of Houston and I just noticed a hummer in amongst my rose bushes. I hurried and made up some nectar and put it out but Haven’t seen it come back. Hoping it finds the feeder.
Keep the feeder up and clean. If is remains in the area, the bird will find the feeder.
Is there a way to send or post a picture so you can help identify what hummingbird is coming around? He doesn’t look like the typical ones we get in summer.
I sent you an email
I live in the countryside in western Hays Co, same place 8 years. For 1st time there is a hummer coming to the feeder everyday in December! It’s green with a light underside. Usually I take the feeder down when they disappear but neglected doing it this year. So now I will keep it cleaned and freshly full!
Sounds like it could be a Ruby throated or a Black chinned. I am still getting visits from a Rufous hummer. Keep the feeders up and clean!
I’m in Flint, TX, just south of Tyler, Tx and we have a female ruby throat. I warm her sugar water daily before the sun’s fully up. She’s getting chubby!
That’s a good sighting. Certainly uncommon. Keep her fed!
It’s snowing and she’s still eating. Wish i could share her picture here!
Do we get any hummingbirds in San Antonio? We are new here and have had a feed up since we arrived a month ago with no sightings at all.
The short answer is yes, however most species do not overwinter in your area. Keep your feeders up and clean and if there are hummers in your area, they will find it. Spring will bring a batch of migrants and summer residents.
I have had a hummingbird here in North Texas / Denton area, for the last few days. I’m worried about him since it’s going to be 27 degrees tonight. 🙁
Don’t worry. Make sure the bird has access to thawed nectar in the morning. Bring your feeder in for the night.
I too have a young rufus coming around, he has been here about two weeks. We kept the feeders up just in case. We live in corpus. Its 6 dec 2020, he was seen multiple times yesterday. Its great!!
That’s great. I saw my Rufous again yesterday. I’m hoping a Buff bellied will show up. I found one in my neighborhood some years ago in mid December.
Thats great! Hope the buff bellied shows and stays for you, if it finds the feeders it should stay? Its an exciting time, normally the dull lull between migrations. We have a Martin colony, while they are away we are happy for the hummingbird visits, especially this one.
You never know what will show up!
I have a female Rudy Throat this morning Dec. 5, 2020..guess I won’t take down my feeder..Bee Co. ..Reading these comments I will be leaving mine up now through winter.
Yaaay! leave them up. You might get some Rufous or even a Buff Bellied!
I have a hummer at my feeder today, in AustinTX.
Any idea what species?
I live on the westside of Houston on Buffalo Bayou between Eldridge and Highway 6. The majority of the hummingbirds that were using my feeders started their southern migration during October, but I still have at least two hummingbirds on my feeders on November 1st. Are these birds going to winter in Houston or will they eventually begin their southern migration?
Thanks,
Bill
More than likely they will migrate. Some hummers do overwinter in the area, and some species like the Rufous, Buff-bellied and Black chinned wander into the area during the winter. I have had Ruby throated coming to my feeders thru the winter in past. Keep your feeders up and clean during the winter and you may still see some. A feeder WILL NOT prevent the birds from migrating
Keep the feeders clean and full. Migration brings lots of hungry hummers. I have 4 feeders out and they are busy all day
Where to you live? I am in FRISCO and they have seemed to have left the area
A significant number of hummers left the area on Sept 25th. This coincides with the first “real” cold front of the season. They take advantage of the tailwind on their southward migration.I still have some birds around coastal Harris county
It’s September 15, 2020. Live in zip 75160. Feeders are out, seeing ruby throated male and female still in the area.
It’s November 20, 2020. Just saw a hummingbird come to the feeder for the second time today. I live in the 76639 area. What a simple blessing it was.
I have them at my feeder every day here in ZIP 78245. There are more than one because they are different sizes and different bill length. I can’t see their markings and colors because from where I sit the feeder is against the sky and I see them in silhouette only. They have been at the feeder even when our temperature was at freezing early in the morning. They land and drink deeply and usually stay as much as a minute or so.
Maybe Black chinned?